Mycotic aortic aneurysms post-Intravesical BCG treatment for early-stage bladder carcinoma

Intravesicular Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an effective adjunctive therapy for superficial bladder cancer that has been shown to delay recurrence and progression of disease. Serious side effects are relatively rare but are difficult to diagnose and are often overlooked. Vascular complications are particularly rare.

We report two cases of mycotic aortic aneurysms secondary to BCG treatment, one managed with endovascular stent-graft placement and the other with open surgical repair. The present understanding of disseminated BCGosis, including a literature review, will be discussed.

The incidence of mycotic aneurysms from BCG treatment is rare and very few cases have been reported in the literature. These cases further expand the current knowledge on vascular complications related to BCG treatment. In the absence of formal guidelines, we recommend a multidisciplinary approach involving vascular surgery, diagnostic and interventional radiology, and infectious disease to manage these patients.