Urethral Carcinoma following Urethroplasty

Urethral Cancer After Urethroplasty: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE

To review and report data on transformation to urethral carcinoma after urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease. Primary urethral carcinoma is a rare entity, and guidelines lack high quality data from which to cite. Urethroplasty is a highly effective treatment for urethral stricture disease, though in rare cases complications may include development of urethral carcinoma.

METHODS

A systematic PubMed search was performed to identify all articles describing patients with urethral carcinoma after urethroplasty. Data were collected on the following parameters: patient age and sex, indication for urethroplasty, presentation of cancer, imaging, pathology, presence of metastasis, intervention, and outcome.

RESULTS

The final cohort included fourteen patients, thirteen from previously published cases and one from our institution. The median patient age at presentation was 60, most had endoscopic management prior to urethroplasty, and the majority presented with decreased urinary stream. All patients developed squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra. Patients underwent radical resection, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, often in combination. A majority of patients had died at the time of case report.

CONCLUSIONS

Development of urethral SCC, particularly after urethroplasty, is a rarely encountered process. Patients and urologists must have a high index of suspicion and investigate symptoms such as fistula or lower urinary tract symptoms, even if these occur many months or even years after BMG. By compiling previously reported cases and adding an additional case to the literature, we hope that familiarity with this entity will lead to earlier recognition and diagnosis of disease.

Primary carcinoma of the distal male urethra: a case treated with lymphadenectomy and interstitial radiation therapy

We report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the distal male urethra with a single inguinal node metastasis. Treatment consisted of unilateral pelvic and inguinal lymphadenectomy, and a combined course of external beam and interstitial radiation therapy to the distal urethra and penis by the Henschke modification of the Paris technique.