Urethrocutaneous fistula: a rare presentation of penile tuberculosis

An interesting case of vesical fistula complicating urogenital tuberculosis

Background

The genitourinary tract is one of the commonest regions that can be affected by extrapulmonary tuberculosis where the diagnosis can be quite difficult. A high index of suspicion and an awareness of the atypical clinical manifestations of urogenital tuberculosis (UGTB) are important, especially in patients from regions where tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem.

Case presentation

Herein, we report a 33-year-old male who presented with a non-healing fistula at the site of suprapubic catheter following an emergency repair of traumatic bladder rupture. Further evaluation revealed a scarred, small capacity bladder with urinary fistulae along with a poorly functioning kidney which was suspicious of a tuberculous etiology. Urinary isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a positive bladder biopsy confirmed our suspicions that the findings were indeed part of the spectrum of UGTB. The patient was started on anti-tubercular chemotherapy and underwent a nephrectomy along with an ileal conduit and is doing well at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

To conclude, urogenital tuberculosis always has to be kept in mind especially when dealing with patients with non-healing urinary fistula, especially in endemic countries. A high index of suspicion along with careful and methodical workup of patients with atypical complications following common surgeries can lead to identification of this morbid condition and thereby avoid mismanagement and progression to chronic kidney disease.

Surgical treatment of urethral tuberculosis in men – history and present (literature review)

The literature review provides data on tuberculosis of the urethra in men. This disease is rarely recorded, as a rule, at the stage of formation of the urethral stricture, which can develop many years after the onset of the disease. Urethral tuberculosis is usually secondary to other localizations of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, such as tuberculosis of the prostate, penis, kidney, and bladder, but there are also isolated forms of this disease. The most common symptoms of urethral tuberculosis are the presence of strictures, skin-urethral and recto-prostatic fistulas, and purulent urethritis. Almost always, with this disease, conservative specific therapy was carried out, which in some cases made it possible to completely eliminate the symptoms and ensure the patient’s clinical recovery. Tuberculous urethral strictures are operated on according to generally accepted rules, but there is no single algorithm for the surgical treatment of strictures of this etiology, often limiting itself only to urine diversion or urethral dilation. Of the urethroplasty, the most commonly used end-to-end urethral anastomosis. In our opinion, a promising direction is the use of various grafts for the surgical treatment of this disease.