Tuberculous Cystitis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has claimed its victims throughout human history. It is becoming a major world heath problem once again, with nearly one third of the world's population being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. With the advent of HIV infection, TB is the most common opportunistic infection among AIDS patients. Genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) is the second most common form of extrapulmonary TB, with more than 90% of cases occurring in developing countries. The kidneys are the most common site of infection in GUTB and are infected through hematogenous spread of the bacilli. Bladder lesions are without exception secondary to renal TB. The diagnosis is based on culture studies by isolation of the causative organism, but biopsy occasionally may be required. Multidrug treatment is the first-line therapy in GUTB and is effective in most patients, though surgery in the form of ablation or reconstruction may be necessary. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.