Primary carcinoma of the female urethra: single center experience of 18 cases.

BACKGROUND

Primary carcinoma of the urethra is more common in women than in men. Vague symptoms in the early stages delay the diagnosis in most patients. Surgery and radiotherapy are used as treatment modalities for these tumors, either alone or in combination.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 18 female patients with urethral cancer presented to our institution. Secondary tumors involving the urethra from adjacent organs like bladder carcinoma and gynecological cancer were excluded.

RESULTS

In our review, the overall survival was 74% at 3 years and 33% at 5 years with median overall survival of 51 months. There was a statistically better overall survival in patients with early stage tumors compared with later stage disease (P = 0.03) and patients with distally located tumors had better survival compared with proximal and whole urethral involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis is poor in advanced stages and in those with proximal or whole urethral involvement, requiring extensive surgical procedures. The aim of treatment in distal urethral carcinomas should be local excision and radiotherapy, thereby preserving the bladder.