[Presentation of a new case of primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra and its surgical management]

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra: review of the literature

Background. Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra (CCAU) is extremely rare and a number of clinicians may be unfamiliar with its diagnosis and biological behaviour. Aims. To review the literature on CCAU. Methods. Various internet databases were used. Results/Literature Review. (i) CCAU occurs in adults and in women in the great majority of cases. (ii) It has a particular association with urethral diverticulum, which has been present in 56% of the patients; is indistinguishable from clear cell adenocarcinoma of the female genital tract but is not associated with endometriosis; and probably does not arise by malignant transformation of nephrogenic adenoma. (iii) It is usually, readily distinguished from nephrogenic adenoma because of greater cytological a-typicality and mitotic activity and does not stain for prostate-specific antigen or prostatic acid phosphatase. (iv) It has been treated by anterior exenteration in women and cystoprostatectomy in men and at times by radiotherapy; chemotherapy has rarely been given. (v) CCAU is aggressive with low 5-year survival rates. (vi) There is no consensus opinion of treatment options that would improve the prognosis. Conclusions. Few cases of CCAU have been reported. Urologists, gynaecologists, pathologists, and oncologists should report cases of CCAU they encounter and enter them into a multicentric trial to determine the best treatment options that would improve the prognosis.

[Vesiculectomy with laparoscopic partial prostatectomy in the treatment of primary adenocarcinoma of the seminal vesicle with carcinomatous transformation of the ejaculatory duct]

INTRODUCTION

Primary adenocarcinoma of the seminal vesicle is an extremely rare condition. Some cases have been described in relation to congenital seminal vesicle cysts, which is often also associated with agenesia or ipsilateral renal disgenesia. The rareness of this type of lesions makes it difficult to plan a regulated surgical approach for them, although they are often treated by simple exeresis or exenteration, depending on their stage at the beginning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We present a new surgical technique that consists of radical vesiculectomy associated with laparoscopic partial prostatectomy (total segmentary) of the central area to successfully treat primary seminal vesicle adenocarcinoma in a young man who was diagnosed through an azoospermia study.

RESULTS

A study of the scan (MRI) with diffusion and the transrectal biopsy of the mass allowed us to make a thorough preoperative evaluation of the case, confirming the malignity and precociousness of the lesion. The laparoscopic approach allowed us to perform a pelvic lymphadenectomy and transperitoneal exeresis, including the central prostate area and suture of the posterior face of the urethra at the height of the apex of the prostate. The wall of the seminal cyst lesion confirmed infiltrating clear cell adenocarcinoma and non-invasive adenocarcinoma in the prostate segment of the central gland in the light of the ejaculatory conduct with "in situ" growth. Thus, the surgical specimen allowed radical exeresis with negative margins, guaranteeing minimally invasive surgery with preservation of continence and erection.

CONCLUSION

We describe a new integral approach for the radical surgery of localized primary adenocarcinoma of the seminal vesicle. Despite its exceptional nature, the case allowed for a double reflection: a) The study of diffusion with MRI may suggest the diagnosis of malignity in this type of lesions; and b) Radical surgical treatment must include exeresis of the central portion of the prostate gland.

Laparoscopic radical cystourethrectomy in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the female urethral diverticulum

Adenocarcinomas arising in the female urethra have been rarely reported. Here we report a case of laparoscopic radical cystourethrectomy with incontinent urinary diversion in a patient with adenocarcinoma in the urethra and bladder. A 60-year-old female presenting with a history of recurrent cystitis and painless hematuria was referred to our facility with voiding difficulty and a urethral mass. Radiologic evaluation showed an enhanced mass in the urethra and bladder neck. Cystoscopic biopsy of the mass in the bladder neck revealed an adenocarcinoma. Laparoscopic radical cystourethrectomy with anterior vaginal wall excision followed by extracorporeal incontinent urinary diversion was performed.