Brucella prostatic abscess: a retrospective study of eight cases and a literature review

To present the clinical characteristics, diagnostics, and treatments for Brucella prostatic abscess (BPA).

We retrospectively analyzed eight BPA patients according to their vocations, age, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and treatments.

The median age was 59 years. The most common clinical symptom was fever, followed by dysuria, erectile dysfunction, frequent urination, and urodynia. C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were significantly elevated in all patients, and in all by one patient, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was high. Prostate enlargement occurred in 87.5% of the patients. Lesions were located in the prostate peripheral (87.5%) and central zones (100%), with homogenous signals on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and a hyperintense signal on short tau inversion recovery (STIR). Patients had a small nodule or multiple nodules, with slight hyperintense to hyperintense signals on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Three patients had pelvic effusion, and seminal vesicle (37.5%), epididymis (12.5%), and bladder (12.5%) infections occurred. All patients received rifampicin and doxycycline with levofloxacin; all lesions had resolved at follow-up ultrasonography.

Even in epidemic areas, the incidence of BPA is relatively rare. Our findings may increase the understanding of BPA and reduce misdiagnosis and mistreatment.