Nationwide survey of urogenital tuberculosis in Japan.

OBJECTIVES

To determine current epidemiology and treatment patterns of urogenital tuberculosis in Japan.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to the urological departments of 1203 Japanese hospitals. Clinical data was reviewed retrospectively; no time range was specified.

RESULTS

Of the 1203 hospitals, 399 returned questionnaires with information about 355 urogenital tuberculosis patients. Of the 399, 153 institutions reported at least one patient, and 201 patients were identified between 2000 and 2007. Infections were located in the kidneys (n = 242), ureter (n = 96), bladder (n = 100), epididymis or testes (n = 81) and prostate (n = 9).

CONCLUSIONS

Urogenital tuberculosis is rare in Japan, but patients do exist, and we should not ignore them.