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Urethral calculi in young-adult Nigerian males: a case series
1Departments of Surgery, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno State, Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Bauchi State. email mbgali@yahoo.com.
Insights
Urethral calculi are rare in Nigerian males, often without clear causes, but may link to childhood urinary schistosomiasis. Management involved external urethrotomy for these anterior urethral stones.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Nephrology
- Public Health
Background:
- Urethral calculi are uncommon, typically associated with underlying urethral abnormalities in males.
- This study addresses the management of urethral calculi in a resource-limited setting.
Observation:
- Four young adult Nigerian males (17-27 years) presented with anterior urethral calculi.
- Symptoms included urethral pain and acute urinary retention; no hematuria was observed.
- Calculi were radio-opaque, solitary or multiple, and lacked associated urethral pathology.
Findings:
- The composition varied, including calcium oxalate, calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, and cystine.
- Calculus sizes ranged from 1cm x 1.5cm to 1.5cm x 5.5cm.
- External urethrotomy was the chosen treatment method.
Implications:
- Urethral calculi are rare in this population, with undefined etiological factors.
- A potential association between urethral calculi and childhood urinary schistosomiasis is suggested.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the etiology and preventative strategies for urethral calculi.
Background:
Urethral calculi are rare and usually encountered in males with urethral pathology.
Objective:
To present our experience managing urethral calculi in a resource limited centre and review the literature.
Methods:
We did a chart review of management of patients with urethral calculi between January and April 2009, at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare, Nigeria. We also reviewed the literature on this rare condition.
Results:
Four young adult male Nigerians between the ages of 17 and 27 years presented with varying degrees of urethral pain and palpable calculi in the anterior urethra. Two presented with acute retention of urine, but none had haematuria. The calculi were radio-opaque, located in the anterior urethra with no associated urethral pathology. Three were solitary and one multiple. The composition of the urethral calculi was a mixture of calcium oxalate calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, one has additional cystine but none had struvite or uric acid. Their sizes ranged between 1cm ×1.5cm and 1.5cm × 5.5cm. External urethrotomy was the method of treatment.
Conclusion:
Urethral calculi are rare in our setting, with no clear identifiable aetiological factors which suggests urinary schistosomiasisbeing associsted. The occurrence of urethral calculi appears to have a relationship with childhood urinary schistosomasis.
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