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Published on: September 19, 2016
Chemotherapeutically induced cutaneous tuberculosis after BCG injection in a patient with pelvic osteosarcoma
Giovanni Zoccali1, Carlo Cota, Giulio Marolda
1Plastic and Reconstructive Section, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. zoccali.giovanni@virgilio.it
Background:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infection afflicting a multitude of people worldwide. Recently, its prevalence has increased. The incidence of skin involvement generally is low. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that typically is administered as a vaccine to stimulate the immune system when treating some early neoplasms or to guard against tuberculosis.
Methods:
Case report and literature review.
Case Report:
The authors describe a young man with osteosarcoma of the left hemipelvis who received intradermal BCG injection for immune stimulation prior to surgery. In the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, he developed cutaneous tuberculosis.
Conclusion:
It is our opinion that BCG injection should be avoided in all patients requiring surgery, especially in oncologic patients, where the immunodeficiency brought on by chemotherapy predisposes to active opportunistic infection.
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