Female urethral carcinoma: an analysis of treatment outcome and a plea for a standardized management strategy

To evaluate our experience with primary carcinomas of the female urethra, by analysing the impact of tumour variables and treatment on overall, disease-specific, local recurrence- and metastasis-free survival.

Between 1958 and 1994, 72 women (median age 60 years, mean 59, range 21-84) with primary urethral carcinoma were identified. They were followed for a median (range) of 85 (0-384) months. The patients were stratified by stage, nodal status, histology, treatment, type of surgery, site of disease, year of diagnosis and smoking habit.

In a univariate analysis, stage, nodal status, type of surgery and site of the disease were important factors for survival and recurrence. In a multivariate analysis, primary stage, nodal status and site of disease were independent predictors of survival.

Current modalities of treatment are ineffective for local control and survival; new treatment strategies are needed for female urethral cancers.