Tuberculosis of the male urethra

Tuberculosis of the male urethra is a rare lesion, with only 21 cases reported in the literature. Two patients with tuberculosis of the urethra, who presented with multiple periurethral fistulas and a periurethral abscess, are described. In both patients there was associated genitourinary tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis could be isolated from the urine and the exudate of the perineal ulcers. Biopsy from the perineal ulcers demonstrated tuberculous granulation tissue with tuberculous bacilli. Treatment consisted of suprapubic cystostomy and a 2-year course of antituberculous drugs, consisting of streptomycin, para-aminosalicylic acid and isoniazid. The urethral fistulas healed with this treatment. The urethral strictures were treated with repeated urethral dilations.