SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CARCINOMA OF THE MALE URETHRA

Urethral cancer: a comprehensive review endorsed by the Global Society of Rare Genitourinary Tumours

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness and adverse effects of urethrectomy alone or as part of multimodal therapy (MMT).

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted across MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, LILACS and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases, from their inception to the present date. The study cohort comprised individuals aged 16 years and older diagnosed with urethral tumours at any stage who underwent either isolated urethrectomy or urethrectomy as an integral component of MMT.

RESULTS

Ninety-two studies comprising 25 480 patients met the inclusion criteria. Surgical outcomes for urethral cancer vary considerably, with 5-year overall survival (OS) ranging from 10% to 68% based on disease extent, approach, and gender. Radiotherapy (RT) alone provides 5-year OS of approximately 40%. Combined regimens provide better outcomes compared to single modalities, including reduced recurrence and enhanced survival. However, trimodal therapy showed survival benefits only for urothelial subtypes, indicating the need to tailor management according to cancer type. MMT with neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery demonstrated the most consistent survival gains.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of urethral cancer demands a nuanced, personalised approach, accounting for factors such as tumour location, sex, and tumour stage. MMT combining surgery, chemotherapy and RT has shown the ability to enhance outcomes in advanced disease. More extensive collaborative studies through specialised centres are imperative to advance evidence-based protocols and refine treatment in order to improve survival.

Urethral cancer managed with phallus preserving surgery: a case report

Background

Primary urethral carcinoma (PUC) is rare and accounts for < 1% of all genito-urinary cancers. There is a male predominance of 3:1 and a peak incidence in the 7th and 8th decades. The aetiology of this cancer is similar to penile cancer, and the human papilloma virus (HPV) is thought to be an essential factor in tumorigenesis. Urethral cancer should be diagnosed and staged with a combination of tumour biopsy, MRI, and CT with treatment involving a multimodal approach. Contemporary management emphasises phallus-preserving surgery where feasible.

Case presentation

Here, we describe a case of distal urethral carcinoma, which presented as a metastatic groin mass and identifying the primary lesion proved challenging. Diagnostic flexible cystoscopy identified a tiny lesion in the navicular fossa, which was biopsied and confirmed to be a squamous cell carcinoma. The patient then underwent phallus preserving surgery, including distal urethrectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissections. The final stage was pT1N1M0, and adjuvant chemotherapy was started. The distal urethrectomy involved the surgical creation of a hypospadic meatus in the midshaft of the penis. Normal voiding and sexual function were preserved.

Conclusions

Urethral cancer is a rare malignancy and clinicians should bear in mind that early diagnosis of this disease can be very difficult depending on the anatomical location of the tumour. Treatment currently favours penis-preserving surgery.

A Challenging Surgical Approach to Locally Advanced Primary Urethral Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary urethral carcinoma (PUC) is a rare and aggressive cancer, often underdetected and consequently unsatisfactorily treated. We report a case of advanced PUC, surgically treated with combined approaches.A 47-year-old man underwent transurethral resection of a urethral lesion with histological evidence of a poorly differentiated squamous cancer of the bulbomembranous urethra. Computed tomography (CT) and bone scans excluded metastatic spread of the disease but showed involvement of both corpora cavernosa (cT3N0M0). A radical surgical approach was advised, but the patient refused this and opted for chemotherapy. After 17 months the patient was referred to our department due to the evidence of a fistula in the scrotal area. CT scan showed bilateral metastatic disease in the inguinal, external iliac, and obturator lymph nodes as well as the involvement of both corpora cavernosa. Additionally, a fistula originating from the right corpus cavernosum extended to the scrotal skin. At this stage, the patient accepted the surgical treatment, consisting of different phases. Phase I: Radical extraperitoneal cystoprostatectomy with iliac-obturator lymph nodes dissection. Phase II: Creation of a urinary diversion through a Bricker ileal conduit. Phase III: Repositioning of the patient in lithotomic position for an overturned Y skin incision, total penectomy, fistula excision, and "en bloc" removal of surgical specimens including the bladder, through the perineal breach. Phase IV: Right inguinal lymphadenectomy.The procedure lasted 9-and-a-half hours, was complication-free, and intraoperative blood loss was 600 mL. The patient was discharged 8 days after surgery. Pathological examination documented a T4N2M0 tumor. The clinical situation was stable during the first 3 months postoperatively but then metastatic spread occurred, not responsive to adjuvant chemotherapy, which led to the patient's death 6 months after surgery.Patients with advanced stage tumors of the bulbomembranous urethra should be managed with radical surgery including the corporas up to the ischiatic tuberosity attachment, and membranous urethra in continuity with the prostate and bladder. Neo-adjuvant treatment may be advisable with the aim of improving the poor prognosis, even if the efficacy is not certain while it can delay the radical treatment of the disease.

[Penis-preserving surgery in patients with primary penile urethral cancer]

BACKGROUND

Primary urethral cancer in males is a rare entity with only approximately 800 cases described, which is why it is difficult to formulate evidence-based guidelines for treatment. For tumors in the pT2 stage with a localization distal to the membranous urethra, a penis-preserving operation can be carried out.

METHODS

In the period from November 2006 to February 2014 a total of 4 patients with primary urethral cancer underwent a penis-preserving urethral resection. The tumor characteristics and treatment results were collated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Of the four patients one had a transitional cell carcinoma of the mid-penile urethra in stage pT2 G2. In two out of the four patients a squamous cell carcinoma (PEC) was present in the mid-penile urethra in stages pT2 G2 and pT2 G3, respectively, with concomitant carcinoma in situ (CIS). The fourth patient had a PEC of the fossa terminalis in stage pT2 G2. Initially all patients underwent a penis-preserving resection. In one case, despite an initial R0 resection a local recurrence occurred and a complete penectomy was performed. Irradiation and lymphadenectomy were not carried out. At a mean follow-up of 37 months all patients are currently in complete remission.

CONCLUSION

Primary penile urethral cancer can be treated by a penis-preserving operation. Close follow-up is essential because recurrence can arise despite an initial R0 resection.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of male urethra with bone and lung metastases presenting as urethral stricture

A 57-year-old man who presented with urinary retention was found to have a sarcomatoid carcinoma of the urethra. Evaluation with CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed multiple pulmonary nodules and osteolytic lesions of left posterior ribs. After external beam radiation therapy and six cycles of systemic chemotherapy, patient underwent a surgical resection of the urethral cancer. After his surgery, patient was also found to have multiple brain metastases and underwent whole brain radiation therapy, nine months after his initial diagnosis. Sarcomatoid carcinomas of the genitourinary tract are extremely rare tumors that require a very aggressive, multimodal treatment approach.

Prognostic factors in male urethral cancer

BACKGROUND

Male urethral cancer is a rare neoplasm, with the published literature consisting of small single-institution retrospective series. As such, there is no objective analysis of prognostic factors and treatment outcome. The author sought to use the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to evaluate prognostic factors in male urethral cancer.

METHODS

From 1988 to 2006, 2065 men were identified in the SEER database as having primary urethral cancer. Median follow-up was 2.5 years. Cancer-specific and overall survival was computed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to evaluate patient age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, race, histologic type, grade, T stage, nodal status, M stage, extent of surgery, and type of radiation as potential significant independent predictors of survival.

RESULTS

Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 46.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.9-48.6%) and 29.3% (95% CI, 26.6-32.0%), respectively, whereas cancer-specific survival at 5 and 10 years was 68.0% (95% CI, 65.5-70.5%) and 60.1% (95% CI, 57.0-63.2%), respectively. Advanced age, higher grade, higher T stage, systemic metastases, other histology versus transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and no surgery versus radical resection were predictors of death and death from disease, whereas adenocarcinoma was associated with a lower likelihood of death and death from disease as compared with TCC. In addition, nodal metastasis was a predictor of death. Surgery had a better outcome than radiation for stage T2 -T4 nonmetastatic disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, grade, TNM stage, histology, and extent of surgery were predictive of overall and cancer-specific survival.

Surgery for urethral cancer

Primary urethral cancers represent less than 1% of genitourinary malignancy. Given this is an uncommon disease, there are limited data to guide diagnostic and treatment strategies. Surgical extirpation remains the standard for most patients, with the addition of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in select patients. The surgical approach to urethral cancer depends largely on the location and extent of the tumor.

[Primary urethral carcinoma. Epidemiology, diagnosis and pathology. Guidelines from the French Urological Association Cancer committee]

Primary urethral carcinomas are unusual. The most frequent histology is the epidermoid carcinoma in both sex, followed by the urothelial carcinoma in men and adenocarcinoma in women. The diagnosis is often late. It is based on a clinical examination under anesthesia and biopsies. MRI is the best imaging modality for the local stadification.

Transitional cell carcinoma due to chronic UroLume stent irritation

UroLume stents have been used for >15 years to improve the voiding dynamics in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and urethral stricture disease. Common complications include stent migration, stricture within the stent, and urothelial hyperplasia, any of which could require stent removal, which itself carries morbidity. We report a case of high-grade urothelial carcinoma associated with chronic UroLume application.

Coordinated chemoradiation therapy with genital preservation for the treatment of primary invasive carcinoma of the male urethra

PURPOSE

We evaluated the efficacy of a combined chemoradiation therapy protocol for the primary treatment of primary invasive carcinoma of the male urethra.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 1991 to December 2006, 18 patients with invasive carcinoma of the male urethra referred to our institution were treated with a chemoradiation therapy protocol, consisting of 2 cycles of 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m(2)) on days 1 to 4 and days 29 to 32, and mitomycin-C (10 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 29 with concurrent external beam radiation therapy (45 to 55 Gy in 25 fractions during 5 weeks) to the genitalia, perineum, and inguinal and external iliac lymph nodes. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to assess overall, disease specific and disease-free survival.

RESULTS

The stage and node distribution was T2N0 in 2 patients (11%), T3N0 in 8 (44%), T4N0 in 2 (11%), TXN1 in 1(6%) and TXN2 in 5 (28%). The most prevalent histology was moderately (7 of 18 patients or 39%) or poorly (10 of 18 or 56%) differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (17 of 18 or 95%). Overall 83% (15 of 18) of the patients had a complete response to the primary chemoradiation therapy protocol, and the 5-year overall and disease specific survival rates were 60% and 83%, respectively. Five-year disease-free survival rates after chemoradiation therapy and after chemoradiation therapy with salvage surgery were 54% and 72%, respectively. The 3 nonresponders died of disease after undergoing salvage surgery and 5 of the 15 complete responders (30%) had recurrence. Complex urethral reconstruction was required in 3 of 10 patients (30%) who had prolonged disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The chemoradiation therapy protocol is an alternative primary treatment modality for invasive urethral carcinoma. It enables an unprecedented potential for organ preservation.

Penile-preserving surgery for male distal urethral carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate medium-term outcome data from patients with distal urethral cancers treated with penile-preserving surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analysed prospectively 18 consecutive men referred for the management of urethral carcinoma. All had a specialist review in a supra-regional multidisciplinary team meeting, where the histology findings were reviewed by one pathology consultant. Tumours were staged according to the Tumour-Node-Metastasis classification and the patients offered penile-preserving surgery when tumours were limited to the glanular or penile urethra.

RESULTS

All 18 patients were suitable for penile-preserving surgery; the procedures were: three hypospadias formation with or without topical chemotherapy; four buccal mucosa urethroplasty; three glansectomy and reconstruction; six glansectomy, distal corporectomy, reconstruction and hypospadias formation; two urethrectomy with or with no excision of adjacent tunica albuginea. The mean (median, range) follow-up was 26 (20.5, 9-58) months. There were no local recurrences; four patients with regional nodal disease progressed and of these, two died from metastatic disease, and one died from an unrelated condition.

CONCLUSION

Medium-term data show that penile-preserving surgery is a feasible treatment for men with distal urethral carcinoma, providing excellent local control without prejudicing survival; a longer follow-up is needed.

Laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy and in block urethrectomy in urethral cancer: initial experience in 2 cases

We introduce laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy and in block urethrectomy as an option for the treatment of urethral cancer in men. Using a 5-port transperitoneal approach, a radical cystoprostatectomy is completed laparoscopically with bilateral iliac and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Urethrectomy and extraction of bladder and prostate is performed through a perineal incision. A segment of ileum is isolated and exteriorized to create an extracorporeal ileal conduit and restore ileo-ileal continuity by open standard technique. Bilateral stented uretero-ileal anastomosis is extracorporeally performed. Total operative time ranges from 4.5 to 4.8 hours. Laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy with perineal urethrectomy and an extracorporeally made ileal conduit is a feasible technique that can be reproduced. To our knowledge, this is the first report of laparoscopic radical surgery in the treatment of urethral cancer in men.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the male bulbomembranous (proximal) urethra--how should the treatment be done? A case report and review of the literature

The probability of the squamous cell carcinoma of the male bulbomembranous urethra is rare. The patients generally diagnosed as urethral stenosis. It has a high stage because of the late symptoms and diagnosis. Monotherapy and multimodal treatments have been considered. Currently, the standard therapy has not been decided yet.

Clinical outcome of 36 male patients with primary urethral carcinoma: a single center experience

AIM

Retrospective analysis of male urethral carcinoma to assess the best therapeutic approach to the management of this tumor.

METHODS

A review of 36 cases of male urethral carcinoma diagnosed and treated at our center was performed. Clinical features, treatment modality and outcomes were analysed.

RESULTS

The overall median survival time was 55.16 months. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rate for the cohort was 49% and 23%, respectively. The 5-year survival is 67% for low-stage versus 33% for high-stage tumors and is significantly different (P = 0.001). The survival was 72% for tumors of the distal urethra versus 36% for tumors of the proximal, with a P-value of 0.02.

CONCLUSION

The tumor location and clinicopathological stage were the most important predictors of the disease-free and overall survival. Multimodal approach is necessary for achieving local control especially for proximal and higher stage tumors.

Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Posterior Urethra in Men: Our Experience

We present the experience of the Division of Urology of Mantova Hospital about the primitive carcinoma of the posterior male urethra. This kind of tumor is very rare and there are't great experiences that permit to define a standardize therapy.

Material and Methods.

Three cases of primary posterior urethral carcinoma who had been treated at our institution between 1999 and 2001 were retrospectively analyzed. The location of the tumor was in 2 cases in the prostatic urethra and in 1 case in the membranosus urethra. The treatment was cistoprostatectomy in 1 case, cistoprostcatectomy associated with penectomy in the case of carcinoma of the membranosus urethra and a prostatectomy in one case of the carcinoma of the prostatic urethra. In 2 cases an adiuvant chemotherapy with cispaltinum was performed while in the third patient a chemiotherapy with gemcitabina was performed at the presentation of a local relapse of tumor.

Results.

In the case of carcinoma of the prostatic urethra treated with cistoprostatectomy and uretrhectomy and adiuvant chemotherapy there was a good local and distand controll of the cancer with a follow up of 24 months. The patients with carcinoma of the membranosus urethra treated with cistoprostcatectomy associated with penectomy and adiuvant chemiotherapy had a local relapse at 24 months and was treated with radiotherapy. The patient treated with only prostatectomy presented a local relapse at 2 months and distant metastasis at 15 months. After 2 years this patient is still alive but in clinical progression.

Conclusions.

The most adequate treatment in the cases of posterior urethral cancer seems the major surgical treatment with urethrectomy associated with radical cistectomy. In advanced stages chemotherapy which by necessity must follow the guidelines established for the treatment of other urothelial cell malignancies seems to give good results. The follow-up of these patients has to be very close.

Retrospective Study of the Treatment of Urethral Cancer

Urethral cancer is rare, encompassing less than 1% of all malignancies. Optimal management, at present, often relies on the limited experience gained from the study of retrospective cases. Therefore, it is imperative to share all available information regarding urethral cancer treatment via reportage of pertinent cases, thus enabling more complete comprehension and decision-making options by both clinicians and researchers. A retrospective review of 18 consecutive patients with primary urethral cancer was performed. An analysis was performed of clinical stage, treatment modality, and outcome. Overall patient survival rate for this retrospective was 44%, with a mean follow-up of 63.5 months. Seven of 10 patients with low-stage diagnosis remained disease free. Comparatively, only one of eight patients with high-stage cancer had no apparent disease. Patients with advanced cancer treated with surgery alone had a shorter disease-free survival (23.3 months) versus those treated with combination chemo/radiation therapy (45.2 months). The major characteristic with prognostic impact was statistically found to be low (T1-2, N0, M0) versus high (T3-4, N1, M1) stage, as assessed by Mann-Whitney U test (z = 2.83, p = 0.0023). Clinical staging afforded the strongest prognostic indication of survival. Patients with low-stage disease exhibited increased survival with single-modality therapy. However, patients with advanced cancer benefited from combined treatment using chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

[Ureteral adenocarcinoma in men: a case report]

Adenocarcinoma of urethra is a rare tumour, which occurs more often in female than in male. The localizations on bulbomenbranous urethra, most frequent, have worse prognostic than those of penile urethra. Because of scarcity of these tumours there is not therapeutic consensus. The treatment is based on the tripod surgery, more or less mutilating, chemotherapy and radiotherapy associated or managed in a separate way. We report the case of a young patient with adenocarcinoma of the posterior urethra treated by a protocol of radio-chemotherapy.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the male urethra

We present a rare case of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the male urethra. These tumors are usually presented with hematuria, obstructive voiding symptoms or urinary retention. Histologically, they display tubulocystic, tubular, papillary or diffuse patterns with clear and hobnail cells. The present case of this rare disease emphasizes the aggressive nature of urethral clear cell adenocarcinoma in males.

Male urethral carcinoma: analysis of treatment outcome

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate our experience with primary carcinomas of the male urethra and to analyze the impact of tumor variables and treatment on overall, disease-specific, local recurrence-free, and metastasis-free survival.

METHODS

Between 1958 and 1996, we identified 46 men with primary carcinoma of the bulbar and anterior urethra. The median follow-up was 125 months (1 to 336). The patients were stratified by stage, nodal status, histologic type, treatment, type of surgery, site of disease, year at diagnosis, and smoking status.

RESULTS

The overall survival and disease-specific survival rates at 5 years were 42% and 50%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival rates at 5 years were 51% and 56%, respectively. The overall survival rate was 83% for superficial disease versus 36% for invasive tumors. The overall survival rate was 26% for tumors of the bulbar urethra versus 69% for tumors of the anterior urethra.

CONCLUSIONS

Current modalities of treatment are ineffective for local control and survival. New treatment strategies are needed for urethral cancer.

Conservative surgical therapy for penile and urethral carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Invasive penile and urethral tumors are traditionally treated with aggressive excision that requires involved organ and adjacent organ sacrifice. An alternative approach seeks to completely excise the tumor with adequate margins while preserving form and function of the organ. We present 6 patients who underwent such organ-sparing surgery.

METHODS

Six selected cases (4 penile and 2 urethral) are presented with operative photographs and pertinent data.

RESULTS

Three distal tumors of the penis were treated with excision limited to the glans with histopathologic findings of verrucous carcinoma, melanoma, and angiosarcoma. One patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the distal shaft refused partial penectomy and underwent a local wedge resection. A patient with locally advanced bulbourethral transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) refused cystourethrectomy and underwent an anterior urethrectomy and perineal urethrostomy. A 48-year-old woman with an adenocarcinoma contained in a very distal urethral diverticulum underwent simple diverticulectomy and excision of distal urethra. Postoperative voiding and sexual function were well preserved. Follow-up was 12 to 48 months. The patient with angiosarcoma died of lung metastases at 48 months with no local disease, and the patient with bulbourethral TCC developed pelvic disease at 12 months with no local recurrence and died of metastases at 25 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Organ-sparing surgery is appropriate in selected patients on the basis of stage and location, high risk of distant failure, and patient disposition. Close follow-up is necessary. Comanagement with reconstructive and oncologic specialists optimizes results and outcomes.

Phallus preservation for urethral cancer: subcutaneous penectomy

PURPOSE

We present a new alternative to amputating penectomy, subcutaneous penectomy, in the male patient with urethral cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The surgical management and followup of 3 men with squamous cell cancers of the urethra are reviewed.

RESULTS

At 22, 9 and 6 months postoperatively all patients were without evidence of local recurrence and were satisfied with phallic appearance. In 1 of 2 patients in whom the dorsal neurovascular bundle was not preserved there was distal glans necrosis and wound separation which resolved after conservative management. One of the 3 patients is contemplating phallus reconstruction. The patient who had pelvic lymph node metastases before penectomy died of metastatic complications without local failure 9 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Phallus preservation in men with urethral cancer can be accomplished successfully with this type of procedure. The dorsal neurovascular bundle should be preserved when feasible. We contend that the cosmetic and potential reconstructive outcomes are superior to amputation without sacrificing cancer therapy in the appropriately selected patient.