Is partial cystectomy the treatment of choice for mucinous adenocarcinoma of the urachus?

OBJECTIVES

To determine if well-differentiated colonic-type adenocarcinoma of the urachus behaves in a benign fashion, and thus might be treated by segmental rather than radical cystectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the literature since 1863 with one added case review is presented here. Only cases with photomicrograph confirmation were accepted.

RESULTS

Sixteen previously reported patients with well differentiated colonic-type adenocarcinoma of the urachus were treated by partial cystectomy. None were treated by radical cystectomy. Most (88%) of these patients were cured, whereas all patients (100%) treated in the last 45 years were cured.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support a more limited approach to the surgical excision of these benign-appearing tumors. The influence of this histologic type on the prognosis of patients with urachal tumors has not been previously reported.