Dr. Kaushik Sarkar, a renowned urologist, recently highlighted the potential link between chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder cancer risk. His experience managing a recent case sheds light on how recurrent infections can sometimes mask more serious conditions.
Case Overview
- Patient Profile: 55-year-old male with a long history of recurrent UTIs
- Presentation: Painless gross hematuria (blood in urine)
- Diagnosis: Cystoscopy revealed a bladder tumor, later confirmed as non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma via biopsy
Treatment Approach
- Surgical Management: The patient underwent Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) to remove the lesion
- Adjuvant Therapy: Followed by intravesical BCG immunotherapy to reduce recurrence risk
Patient Outcome
At a 3-month follow-up cystoscopy, no tumor recurrence was detected. The patient remains on regular surveillance with cystoscopy and ultrasound every three months.
Key Insights
- Chronic or recurrent UTIs may trigger bladder inflammation, potentially increasing the risk of cancer development.
- TURBT combined with BCG therapy continues to be the gold-standard treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
- Patients with frequent UTIs should be closely monitored for early cancer detection and long-term follow-up.