Urethral Cancer

How to Cite This Chapter: Książek A, Załuska W, Wysocki WM. Urethral Cancer. McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna. https://empendium.com/mcmtextbook/chapter/B31.II.14.81.3. Accessed December 05, 2024.
Last Updated: July 15, 2024
Last Reviewed: July 15, 2024
Chapter Information

Definition, Etiology, Pathogenesis

Urethral cancer is very rare. In 75% of cases it is a squamous cell carcinoma, and in the remaining cases it originates in the transitional epithelium of the urinary tract (urothelium). It is usually diagnosed in individuals aged >70 years, more often in women. Tumor development is usually preceded by chronic inflammation.

Clinical Features

Dysuria and symptoms of subvesical obstruction or urinary incontinence, rarely hematuria.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is established during endoscopic examination of the urethra and on the basis of histologic examination of the collected tissue sample.

Treatment

For superficial changes in the distal urethra, radiotherapy is used as the only treatment method or after prior surgical resection of the tumor; surgical treatment is used in more advanced cases. The rate of local recurrence after treatment is ~50%.

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