patients self-reported side-effects after each instillation in a questionnaire. RESULTSAfter reducing the BCG dwell-time, fever, chills, dysuria and the overall time-torecovery were significantly reduced but frequency and haematuria were not influenced. Patients with carcinoma in situ had significantly less dysuria than patients with papillary tumours. There was no difference in the treatment results between patients who had a normal dwell-time and a reduced dwell-time, determined at the first and second follow-up cystoscopy.

In this series, although MFES was effective in the short term, the long-term treatment outcome was unsatisfactory. A critical review suggests that outcome success is proportional to the patient's ability and willingness to accept quite a high stimulation intensity or, alternatively, follow-up home treatment. Hence, the implementation of strict primary as well as secondary selection criteria can hopefully identify patients most suitable for MFES. Another lesson to be learnt is that the identification of crucial prerequisites of successful treatment is mandatory before embarking on controlled studies.

No abstract

The results of palliative BCG treatment were encouraging, but further experience is necessary.