Urethral duplication in males: our experience in ten cases
Salvatore Arena1, Carmela Arena, Maria Grazia Scuderi
1Unit of Thoracic, Abdominal and Urogenital Pediatric Surgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Catania, Vittorio Emanuele Hospital, Via Plebiscito, 628, 95124 Catania, Italy. arenasal@inwind.it
Pediatric Surgery International
|June 20, 2007
Summary
Urethral duplication is a rare congenital anomaly in boys. Management varies by type, with good outcomes achieved through surgical or conservative approaches.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Congenital Anomalies
- Genitourinary Surgery
Background:
- Urethral duplication is a rare congenital anomaly primarily affecting males.
- Clinical manifestations differ based on anatomical variations.
- This study focuses on complex cases, excluding mild distal Type I and certain Y-type duplications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the experience with ten male patients diagnosed with urethral duplication.
- To analyze the diverse anatomical patterns and management strategies.
- To evaluate the outcomes of surgical and non-surgical interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for ten male patients.
- Diagnostic evaluations included voiding cystourethrography, retrograde urethrography, intravenous urography, and urethrocystoscopy.
- Surgical interventions included urethral excision and ventral urethral displacement.
Main Results:
- Ten male patients with urethral duplication were identified, with a mean age at diagnosis of 46.7 months.
- Anatomical patterns included blind-ending duplicated urethra (Type I), common bladder neck origin (Type II A2), Y-type duplication, and complete bladder with incomplete urethral duplication.
- Six patients underwent surgical management with good cosmetic and functional results; four required no surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
- Urethral duplication presents with varied anatomical patterns and is often linked to other genitourinary and gastrointestinal abnormalities.
- The embryological basis for urethral duplication is complex and likely varies among subtypes.
- Individualized management is crucial, and the overall prognosis for urethral duplication is generally favorable, even with associated anomalies.
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