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

Between 1988 and 1996, we treated five patients with primary carcinoma of the female urethra between 65 and 79 years of age. Presenting symptoms included a urethral mass in 2 patients, hematuria in 1, dysuria in 1 and urethral bleeding in 1. Histopathology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in 4 cases and transitional cell carcinoma in 1. Clinical stage according to Grabstald's classification comprised Stage A in two cases, Stages B, C and D in one each. The modes of treatment were surgical resection alone in two, radiation therapy alone in two, and surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy in one case. Three patients without disease and two with disease are olive from 5 to 87 months after diagnosis.