Nephrogenic adenoma in a urethral diverticulum

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pathology

Background:

• Nephrogenic adenoma (NA) is a rare benign lesion arising from metaplasia of the urothelium.
• Urethral diverticula are outpouchings of the urethra that can harbor various pathologies.

Observation:

• A case of a 46-year-old woman with a symptomatic anterior vaginal wall cyst is presented.
• Histopathological examination revealed the cyst to be a nephrogenic adenoma within a urethral diverticulum.

Findings:

• Nephrogenic adenoma within a urethral diverticulum is an infrequently reported but potentially under-recognized entity.
• Prevalence may be higher than suggested by case reports, as indicated by consecutive case series.
• Distinguishing NA from clear cell adenocarcinoma in urethral diverticula is clinically important.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering nephrogenic adenoma in the differential diagnosis of urethral and vaginal wall lesions.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial to avoid misclassification, particularly with clear cell adenocarcinoma.
• Further studies are warranted to understand the true prevalence and clinical behavior of NA within urethral diverticula.