Renal calcification in genito-urinary tuberculosis

Urogenital tuberculosis - epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical features

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause of death from infectious disease worldwide. A substantial proportion of patients presenting with extrapulmonary TB have urogenital TB (UG-TB), which can easily be overlooked owing to non-specific symptoms, chronic and cryptic protean clinical manifestations, and lack of clinician awareness of the possibility of TB. Delay in diagnosis results in disease progression, irreversible tissue and organ damage and chronic renal failure. UG-TB can manifest with acute or chronic inflammation of the urinary or genital tract, abdominal pain, abdominal mass, obstructive uropathy, infertility, menstrual irregularities and abnormal renal function tests. Advanced UG-TB can cause renal scarring, distortion of renal calyces and pelvic, ureteric strictures, stenosis, urinary outflow tract obstruction, hydroureter, hydronephrosis, renal failure and reduced bladder capacity. The specific diagnosis of UG-TB is achieved by culturing Mycobacterium tuberculosis from an appropriate clinical sample or by DNA identification. Imaging can aid in localizing site, extent and effect of the disease, obtaining tissue samples for diagnosis, planning medical or surgical management, and monitoring response to treatment. Drug-sensitive TB requires 6-9 months of WHO-recommended standard treatment regimens. Drug-resistant TB requires 12-24 months of therapy with toxic drugs with close monitoring. Surgical intervention as an adjunct to medical drug treatment is required in certain circumstances. Current challenges in UG-TB management include making an early diagnosis, raising clinical awareness, developing rapid and sensitive TB diagnostics tests, and improving treatment outcomes.

Aspects of Evolving Genito Urinary Tuberculosis-A Profile of Genito Urinary Tuberculosis (GUTB) in 110 Patients

INTRODUCTION

Genito Urinary Tuberculosis (GUTB) is a widespread disease seen in urology practice. The true incidence and prevalence of GUTB is difficult to estimate because a large number of patients remain asymptomatic.

AIM

To recognize typical and atypical clinical and radiological features of tuberculosis and to emphasize the need for diagnosing GUTB early.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study conducted in 110 cases of GUTB diagnosed and treated in two teaching institutions over a period of three years, from July 2002 to June 2005. A detailed history, thorough clinical examination, urine examination, culture for tubercle bacillus, imaging studies, cystoscopy and histological and serological examination were done to arrive at a diagnosis.

RESULTS

Fifty six patients (51%) were in the age group of 21-40 years. The male: female ratio was 1.4: 1. Loin pain was the most common symptom observed in 27% of the patients. Intravenous Urogram (IVU) revealed non-visulalised kidney in 25 patients (23%), hydronephrosis or hydrouretero nephrosis in 34 patients (31%) and distortion, cavitation or scarring of the calyces in 16 patients (14.5%). Five of them had thimble bladder. In 14 patients, IVU appeared normal. About 28 patients (25%) were treated conservatively with anti tuberculosis therapy. Twenty one of them (19%) underwent Nephrectomy and 10 patients had reconstructive procedures.

CONCLUSION

A peculiarity of most of our patients was a late presentation with advanced disease. Most patients were asymptomatic or ignorant. Slow but continuous infection causes a destruction of renal parenchyma and the healing process leads to renal parenchymal loss. If identified early and treated appropriately, GUTB is a curable condition.

Tuberculosis of the genitourinary system-Urinary tract tuberculosis: Renal tuberculosis-Part I

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a worldwide scourge and its incidence appears to be increasing due to various factors, such as the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The insidious onset and non-specific constitutional symptoms of genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) often lead to delayed diagnosis and rapid progression to a non-functioning kidney. Due to hematogenous dissemination of TB, there is a potential risk of involvement of the contralateral kidney too. Imaging plays an important role in the making of a timely diagnosis and in the planning of treatment, and thus helps to avoid complications such as renal failure. Imaging of GUTB still remains a challenge, mainly on account of the dearth of literature, especially related to the use of the newer modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This two-part article is a comprehensive review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and imaging findings in renal TB. Various imaging features of GUTB are outlined, from the pathognomonic lobar calcification on plain film, to finer early changes such as loss of calyceal sharpness and papillary necrosis on intravenous urography (IVU); to uneven caliectasis and urothelial thickening, in the absence of renal pelvic dilatation, as well as the hitherto unreported 'lobar caseation' on ultrasonography (USG). Well-known complications of GUTB such as sinus tracts, fistulae and amyloidosis are described, along with the relatively less well-known complications such as tuberculous interstitial nephritis (TIN), which may remain hidden because of its 'culture negative' nature and thus lead to renal failure. The second part of the article reviews the computed tomography (CT) and MRI features of GUTB and touches upon future imaging techniques along with imaging of TB in transplant recipients and in immunocompromised patients.

Surgical management of renal tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major health problems that our country is facing today. Despite active interventions by our government, control of TB still remains to be achieved. The emergence and exponential growth of the human immunodeficiency virus and drug-resistant strains threaten to further complicate the TB situation in our country. Even in this era of advanced chemotherapy, many lives are lost every day in our country. Tuberculosis of the urinary tract, despite being one of the commonest forms of extra-pulmonary TB, is generally overlooked. Most patients present with vague lower urinary symptoms typical of urinary tract infection. In this article, we shall highlight the various issues related to the surgical management of renal and ureteral tuberculosis.

Spectrum of high-resolution sonographic features of urinary tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the high-resolution sonographic features of urinary tuberculosis.

METHODS

During a period of about 3 years 6 months, there were 45 patients with sonographic features of urinary tuberculosis that was subsequently proved by urine culture or biopsy. The clinical symptoms, urinalysis findings, sonographic features, urine smear findings, and biopsy findings were recorded.

RESULTS

The most common symptoms were dysuria and frequency of micturition. Sonographic features included parenchymal masses, cavities, mucosal thickening of the collecting system and urinary bladder, stenosis of the collecting system, a contracted urinary bladder, vesicoureteric reflux, and calcifications. The proof of tuberculosis was by urinalysis, culture, and biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

High-resolution sonography in appropriate clinical situations is useful in diagnosis of urinary tuberculosis. The various high-resolution sonographic findings in urinary tuberculosis are illustrated. The distinguishing features are visualization of involvement of multiple sites and multiple stages of disease in the same patient.

Polymerase chain reaction in clinically suspected genitourinary tuberculosis: comparison with intravenous urography, bladder biopsy, and urine acid fast bacilli culture

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the role of urinary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) in patients with a clinical suspicion of genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) and to compare its sensitivity with intravenous urography (IVU), bladder biopsy, and urine culture for acid fast bacilli (AFB).

METHODS

The study was carried out between September 1997 and December 1998 in 42 patients with a clinical suspicion of GUTB. Their clinical features, organ involvement, and investigation results were studied. The diagnostic yield of urinary PCR for MTb and its sensitivity in comparison with routine urine AFB culture, bladder biopsy, and IVU were assessed.

RESULTS

There were 25 male and 17 female patients, with a mean age of 31.04 years. Patients suspected of having GUTB most often presented with irritative voiding symptoms. Two patients had abnormal renal parameters. Of the 42 patients clinically suspected of having GUTB, radiologic abnormalities suggestive of GUTB were found in 37 (88.09%); MTb was isolated in the urine AFB culture in 13 (30.95%); bladder biopsy was positive in 11 (45.83%); and urinary PCR for MTb was positive in 34 cases (80.95%). Of 35 cases of proven GUTB, IVU was suggestive of the diagnosis in 32 (91.42%) and MTb was isolated in the urine AFB culture in 13 cases (37.14%). Bladder biopsy was positive in 11 (45. 83%) of 24 patients in whom biopsy was taken, and urinary PCR for MTb was positive in 33 (94.29%).

CONCLUSIONS

A high index of suspicion is necessary for a diagnosis of GUTB. In clinically suspected cases, IVU may be suggestive of GUTB, but it is not specific. In the present study, IVU was suggestive in 88.09% of patients. MTb was isolated in the urine AFB culture in only 37.14% of patients, and bladder biopsy was positive in 45.83%. Urinary PCR for MTb was the most sensitive indicator and was positive in 94.29% of patients. It is evident from this series that PCR provides a much faster diagnosis of urinary MTb. It is a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic method and avoids a delay in starting treatment.

Frequent occurrence of renal calculi in tuberculous kidneys in Israel

The incidence of renal calculi among renal tuberculous patients, hospitalized during thirty years in a medical center, was evaluated. It was found to be 24.5 per cent, most probably the highest figure so far reported in the medical literature.

Genitourinary tuberculosis: a 7-year review

Since 1970 short course regimes of chemotherapy have been adopted for the treatment of 87 patients suffering from genitourinary tuberculosis. The response to chemotherapy, the effect of surgery, the importance of hypertension and the relapse rate have been studied. It is concluded that all cases of genitourinary tuberculosis will respond to a short intensive course of chemotherapy, which need not be given for longer than 6 months.

Urinary tuberculosis

The present incidence, clinical features and classification of urinary tuberculosis are discussed.

Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment. The indications for surgical intervention are reviewed and procedures briefly described.