[Primary carcinoma of the female urethra: report of 4 cases]

We experienced 4 cases of primary carcinoma of the female urethra during 1998 to 2011. All of the cases were diagnosed primary urethral cancer according to tumor biopsy, cystoscopy, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were between 66 to 92 years of age at the time of presentation. Presenting symptoms included gross hematuria in 1 case, urinary retention in another case, and vulvar bleeding in 2 cases. Pathology showed urothelial carcinoma in 2 cases, adenocarcinoma in 1 case, and squamous cell carcinoma in another case. There were 2 patients with stage D, 1 patient with C, and another with B. Three patients were treated with total cystectomy and ileal conduit. One patient was treated with radiation. Two patients died from urethral cancer, 1 patient is free from disease for 12 months, and another patient became lost during follow-up.