Polyps and papillary lesions of the prostatic urethra

Hematospermia: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Hematospermia is a relatively frequent, distressing, and frightening symptom for the majority of men. Although the differential diagnosis list is extensive, it is usually a benign, self-limiting disorder, including inflammatory and infective pathologies, resolving in several weeks. However, in some cases, hematospermia is the harbinger of more serious pathological lesions that should not be missed. In younger patients below 40 years of age, infection of the urogenital tract is the most common etiology. Simple routine laboratory studies should identify the pathological factors. In patients 40 years or older, or those with persistent or recurrent conditions or associated symptoms, it is necessary to exclude urogenital malignant disorders. Patients should also undergo medical history taking, physical examination including temperature and blood pressure assessment, digital rectal palpation, and laboratory blood, urine, and semen tests. If the diagnosis is still unclear, further investigations involve transrectal ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, urethrocystoscopy, and histological confirmation by biopsy. Treatment for hematospermia depends on the underlying pathological lesions, but often involves only minimal examinations and simple reassurance in most cases. Hematospermia caused by genitourinary infections is effectively treated with appropriate antiviral, antibiotic, or antiparasitic agents. Hematospermia due to malignant disorders including prostate, testis, and seminal vesicle cancers resolves with definitive treatment of the primary lesions.

Hemospermia

PURPOSE

With current diagnostic modalities the proportion of patients diagnosed with idiopathic hemospermia has decreased dramatically. The dilemma now is how far to investigate these patients since in the majority it is a benign and self-limiting symptom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the literature on hemospermia with particular emphasis on etiology, diagnosis and management. A Medline search of the literature for the last 40 years was done and all relevant articles were studied in full.

RESULTS

Etiological factors are often categorized into the various pathophysiological mechanisms. Most cases of hemospermia are the result of iatrogenic, inflammatory and infective pathologies. A literature review of the etiological studies of hemospermia identified a total of 33 tumors (25 prostatic) in 931 cases (3.5%). In patients younger than 40 years an infective cause in the urogenital tract is the most common etiological factor. Often only simple, tailored investigations and appropriate treatment are required. In patients older than 40 years with persistent hemospermia or associated symptoms such as hematuria it is essential to exclude urogenital malignancy. History, examination and simple investigation should also suffice in this group. If the diagnosis is still unclear, further investigation in the form of transrectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and cystoscopy is of proven benefit. Treatment for hemospermia depends on the underlying pathological condition. In most cases bleeding is slight and self-limited, and it may be managed expectantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients can be treated with minimal investigations and simple reassurance. In older patients or those with persistent hemospermia or associated symptoms modern diagnostic techniques are of proven benefit.

Ectopic prostatic tissue in the uterine cervix: a report of four cases and review of ectopic prostatic tissue

We report four examples of prostatic tissue occurring in the uterine cervix of patients aged 22, 25, 31, and 77 years. Three were incidental findings in loop excisions (two patients) and cone biopsy (one patient) of the cervix for high-grade squamous dysplasia. One presented as a cervical mass, clinically suspected to represent a fibroid. The prostatic tissue consisted of ducts and acini, some of which had papillary or cribriform patterns. Squamous metaplasia was prominent in all cases. No Wolffian duct tissue was present. The glandular epithelium in all cases was positive for prostatic acid phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen. High molecular weight keratin, performed in two cases, highlighted basal cells in a manner similar to the normal prostate. These unusual cases, only one of which is documented previously, further complicate the often-challenging area of interpretation of benign glandular lesions of the cervix. The unusual phenomenon of ectopic prostate tissue in general is reviewed.

Benign urethral polyps

Ten male patients presented between 1985 and 1991 with benign urethral polyps. This lesion is believed to represent a developmental error in the invagination process of the submucous glandular material of the inner zone of the prostate. The clinicopathological features of the condition are discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Haematospermia

Haematospermia, blood in the ejaculate, is a symptom which provokes great anxiety in patients due to fears of malignant or sexually transmitted disease. However, there is no evidence from the published literature to associate it with any serious pathology. The large series of cases indicate that investigation is unproductive and that patients do not develop serious disease even after prolonged follow-up. Patients presenting with haematospermia warrant a full physical examination, including rectal examination, but in the absence of physical signs they should then be strongly reassured. Further investigation is unnecessary. Coexistent urological symptoms should be investigated appropriately.

Prostatic-type polyps of the lower urinary tract: three histogenetic types?

Seventeen prostatic-type polyps of the lower urinary tract are reported. All occurred in males, and the mean ages of the patients with ureteric orifice, bladder and urethral polyps were 20.5, 60.2 and 36.6 years, respectively. The commonest presentation for the bladder and ureteric orifice polyps was haematuria, whereas that for the urethral polyps was either dysuria or haematuria. The polyps consisted of acini and papillae lined by prostatic-type epithelium, as confirmed by immunostaining for prostatic-specific antigen. Most had interspersed islands or complete covering of transitional epithelium on the surface. We believe that the histogenesis of prostatic-type polyps may differ in the different sites. For the ureteric orifice polyp, the early age of presentation and the simple occurrence of prostatic acini beneath an intact urothelium suggest a developmental abnormality. For the bladder polyp, the late onset of disease and the commonly observed transition with cystitis cystica-glandularis suggest that it may be a metaplastic variant of cystitis cystica-glandularis. On the other hand, the urethral polyp probably represents a hyperplastic lesion, since the prostatic urethra is normally lined partly by prostatic-type epithelium.

Benign prostatic epithelial polyp of urethra

A case report of polypoid tumor of the prostatic urethra is presented. The tumor was resected transurethrally, and histologic examination revealed a papillary tumor containing prostatic glandular structure.

Congenital posterior urethral polyps

Congenital posterior urethral polyps are benign growths that can cause a variety of symptoms in young boys. They are pathologically distinct growths usually discovered by voiding cystourethrography. We present 5 cases of congenital posterior urethral polyps, and discuss the presentation and pathophysiological status of these lesions. These lesions must be considered in the differential diagnosis of voiding dysfunction in young boys.