Benefits of urethroplasty for managing urethral amyloidosis: A case report

Intermittent urethral infusion of dimethylsulfoxide for urethral amyloidosis: a case report and literature review

Urethral amyloidosis (UA) is a very rare condition. We here report the case of a 63-year-old male patient who was admitted to our outpatient department due to aggravating dysuria, frequent urination, pain during intercourse, and a gradually enlarging mass at the ostium of his urethra, which he first notice one year earlier. Pathological tissue biopsy of urethral ostium mass confirmed UA. Intermittent urethra infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide was performed and the treatment effect is satisfactory.

Localized amyloidosis of the prostatic urethra mimicking urothelial carcinoma

Amyloidosis is a disease characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid protein fibrils in tissues. It rarely involves the urethra with just over 50 cases reported in the English language literature. We report a case of urethral amyloidosis that mimicked urothelial carcinoma clinically. The patient is a 69-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath. An abdominal CT scan demonstrated a right hydronephrotic kidney and a large, predominantly hyperdense lesion, presumed to be hematoma largely occupying the urinary bladder. Pan-cystoscopy revealed a 6 cm bladder mass involving the prostatic urethra displacing the right ureteral orifice, which was biopsied. Histologic examination showed numerous osteoclast-type giant cells, with areas of extensive calcification and multifocal ossification interspaced by large deposits of amorphous eosinophilic material. Amyloid deposition was confirmed by Congo red and sulfated Alcian blue stains. Light chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was performed and detected multiple types of proteins including serum amyloid P component, apolipoprotein A4, and apolipoprotein E; however, a dominant amyloid type was not identified. The patient had no history of infection or localized inflammation. Further investigations for systemic amyloidosis were all negative. Amyloidosis of the urethra is extremely rare and may either be localized, idiopathic or a manifestation of systemic amyloidosis. Physicians among various specialties, including urologists, pathologists and radiologists should be aware of this rare entity, as this lesion may be easily mistaken for malignancy further emphasizing the importance of tissue diagnosis before definitive surgery. Long-term follow-up in the absence of symptoms may not be required.

Primary localized amyloidosis causing urethral stricture disease: a mimicker of urothelial carcinoma

We describe a case of mild lower urinary tract symptoms and microscopic hematuria in a 53-year-old-male with hypertension found to have urethral stricture disease suspicious for urothelial carcinoma. During the investigation, cystoscopy and biopsy demonstrated eosinophilic amyloid proteins consistent with primary localized urethral amyloidosis. No systemic evidence of amyloidosis was demonstrated. Following a trial of conservative management with serial dilatations, the patient elected to proceed with surgical management by anterior urethroplasty using an excision and primary anastomosis technique. The patient has done well with resolution of his symptoms and no further recurrence of urethral amyloid disease at ongoing follow up.