Palliative effect of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin in elderly patients with advanced bladder carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was used to palliate severe local symptoms in patients with invasive carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with unresectable bladder carcinoma who were unfit for radical cystectomy because of age and poor performance status were treated with a 6-week course of BCG followed by monthly instillations. RESULTS: Urgency and frequency were reduced in 3 patients and the improvement lasted for 9 to 19 months. All 4 patients ultimately died of bladder carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The results of palliative BCG treatment were encouraging, but further experience is necessary.