Urethral cancer
Urethral cancer | |
---|---|
Micrograph of a urethral cancer, urothelial cell carcinoma, found on a prostate core biopsy. H&E stain. | |
Specialty | Oncology Urology |
Symptoms | Blood in the urine |
Urethral cancer is a rare cancer originating from the urethra.[1]
Cancer in this location is rare, and the most common type is papillary transitional cell carcinoma.[2] The most common site of urethral cancer is the bulbomembranous urethra.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms that may be caused by urethral cancer include:
- Blood visible in urine.[1]
- Bloody urethral discharge.[3]
- Blood in the urine.
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
- Urination occurs often, painful urination, inability to pass urine.
- A lump or thickness in the perineum or penis.[1]
- Enlarged lymph nodes or pain in the groin or vaginal area.
Risk factors
Prolonged irritations of the urethra due to urinary catheterization, chronic inflammation due to infection, radiation, diverticula of the urethra, and urethral strictures, may increase the risk of primary urethral cancer.[1] Other risk factors include squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and genital lichen sclerosus.[1]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is established by transurethral biopsy.[1]
Histology
Types of urethral cancer include the most common type urothelial carcinoma, and others including squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Melanoma and sarcoma are rare.[1]
Treatment
Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the urethra.[1] One of the following types of surgery may be done: Open excision, Electro-resection with flash, Laser surgery, Cystourethrectomy, Cystoprostatectomy, Anterior body cavity, or Incomplete or basic penectomy surgery.
Radiation therapy has also been used in some cases.[1]
Chemotherapy is sometimes used to destroy urethral cancer cells. It is a systemic urethral cancer treatment (i.e., destroys urethral cancer cells throughout the body) that is administered orally or intravenously. Medications are often used in combination to destroy urethral cancer that has metastasized. Commonly used drugs include cisplatin, vincristine, and methotrexate.
Side effects include anemia (causing fatigue, weakness), nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, increased risk for infection, shortness of breath, or excessive bleeding and bruising.[4]
Epidemiology
Primary urethral cancer is rare and contributes to less than 1% of all cancers. It is three times more common in men than women and its incidence rises after the age of 75.[1]
Around half of affected people have locally advanced disease when they first present.[1]
See also
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2009) |
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Janisch, Florian; Abufaraj, Mohammad; Fajkovic, Harun; Kimura, Shoji; Iwata, Takehiro; Nyirady, Peter; Rink, Michael; Shariat, Shahrokh F. (1 September 2019). "Current Disease Management of Primary Urethral Carcinoma". European Urology Focus. 5 (5): 722–734. doi:10.1016/j.euf.2019.07.001. ISSN 2405-4569.
- ^ Ries, LAG; Young, JL; Keel, GE; Eisner, MP; Lin, YD; Horner, M-J, eds. (2007). "Chapter 30: Cancers of Rare Sites". SEER Survival Monograph: Cancer Survival Among Adults: US SEER Program, 1988–2001, Patient and Tumor Characteristics. SEER Program. Vol. NIH Pub. No. 07-6215. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. pp. 251–262. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ Kahan, Scott; Miller, Redonda; Smith, Ellen G. (2008). "126. Penile Discharge". Signs and Symptoms. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-7043-9.
- ^ Urethral Cancer Treatment