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CASE REPORT
Vesicocutaneous fistula following adjuvant radiotherapy for prostate cancer
  1. Derek Barry Hennessey1,
  2. Eva Bolton2,
  3. Arun Z Thomas2,
  4. Thomas H Lynch2
  1. 1Department of Urology, Craigavon Area Hospital, Portadown, UK
  2. 2Department of Urology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
  1. Correspondence to Derek Barrry Hennessey, derek.hennessey{at}gmail.com

Summary

Vesicocutaneous fistulas (VCF) are a rare complication of radical radiotherapy to the pelvis. Timely diagnosis and management are often difficult and complex. We report the unusual case of a 64-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency department with worsening sepsis and profuse discharge from a cutaneous opening in the left groin. This presentation was 6 weeks following the completion of external beam radiotherapy for apical margin-positive prostate cancer (pT3a). A diagnosis of a VCF was confirmed after CT scanning of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast. Urinary diversion was achieved by a temporary urethral catheter insertion. Full resolution of this gentleman's symptoms was accomplished. In this article, we present a non-invasive approach to the management of VCF. This case raises intricate management issues in the atypical development of an early urinary tract fistula postradiotherapy.

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