Primary squamous cell carcinoma of anterior male urethra

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior male urethra, which accounts for most carcinomas in that site, is a rare lesion. Ten cases having occurred in the last ten years were divided into distal and proximal anterior urethral lesions. Analysis of these cases confirms the need for a high index of suspicion for the lesion in patients who have chronic stricture disease; surgical treatment as the primary therapeutic modality; the fact that distal lesions generally have a better prognosis than proximal lesions, thus may sometimes be treated more conservatively; and the fact that adenopathy (especially of the pelvic nodes) usually heralds a poorer prognosis. Retrograde urethrography, endoscopy with biopsy, and bimanual examination are all essential for proper diagnosis, staging, and management.