Primary urethral malignancy: review of 22 cases

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology

Background:

• Primary urethral malignancies are uncommon, with a poor prognosis unless diagnosed and treated early.
• Early-stage anterior urethral lesions may be misdiagnosed as benign, delaying critical therapy.

Observation:

• Review of 22 primary urethral malignancy cases diagnosed between 1955 and 1976.
• Identified associations between urethral carcinoma and caruncles/diverticula.
• Presented the first reported case of urethral diverticulum with carcinoma in males.

Findings:

• Two additional cases of adenocarcinoma in female urethral diverticula were reported.
• Early diagnosis of anterior urethral lesions is crucial but challenging due to potential misdiagnosis.

Implications:

• Aggressive treatment and early diagnosis are vital for improving outcomes in urethral cancer.
• Surgical excision of urethral caruncles and diverticula is recommended to prevent potential malignant transformation.