Epididymo-orchitis following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy.

OBJECTIVE To describe a case of epididymo-orchitis that developed four years after treatment with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and to review the incidence of this adverse effect. DATA SOURCES Information about the patient was obtained from the medical chart. A MEDLINE search of English-language literature (from January 1976 to April 1999) was conducted. STUDY SELECTION All case reports of BCG-related epididymo-orchitis were evaluated. Review articles describing complications of BCG therapy for bladder cancer and the prevention and treatment of these complications were reviewed. DATA EXTRACTION Studies were evaluated for reports of BCG-related epididymo-orchitis and its treatment. DATA SYNTHESIS Our case report is compared with others reported in the literature. The incidence of BCG-associated epididymoorchitis is rare. CONCLUSIONS Epididymo-orchitis should be considered as a late complication of BCG therapy for bladder cancer. Proper patient selection may help decrease the risk of complications from BCG therapy.