Genitourinary tuberculosis: study of 20 patients.

In the past year 20 new cases of genitourinary tuberculosis were referred for treatment at Wrightington Hospital. Many of these patients had waited a long time between diagnosis and referral and the start of effective treatment. We suggest that a new short course of chemotherapy should be used, and surgery undertaken during the first three months of treatment, but after the patient has had at least four weeks' drug treatment. After chemotherapy follow-up may be reduced to two years. Genitourinary tuberculosis remains a serious disease and should be managed by a urologist.