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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Female urethral stricture is a rare condition. Distal stricture have usually been managed using meatoplasty. Advancement urethroplasty might be an interesting surgical al...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Urethrectomy with appendicovesicostomy is a treatment option for low stage urethral cancer. We present a novel minimally-invasive surgical approach which allows for robotic appendicovesicostomy to be performed simultaneously with open urethrectomy. METHODS: A 71 year-old man presented with clinically-localized squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra. He underwent a traditional open urethrectomy with simultaneous robotic-assisted bladder neck closure, omental J flap interposition, and appendicovesicostomy. The robot was side-docked to allow for a perineal surgeon to work in tandem with the robotic surgeon. RESULTS: Total operating room time was 391 minutes. Robotic console time was 281 minutes. Length of stay was four days. There were no complications, and no secondary procedures were required. Final pathology demonstrated T2 squamous cell carcinoma with negative margins. At 6 months follow up, the patient is continent and cancer-free. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous extirpative surgery and minimally-invasive urinary tract reconstruction is possible for patients with urethral cancer. Side-docking the robot allows for two surgical teams to work concurrently. This approach may be applicable to other procedures requiring both open perineal and laparoscopic intraabdominal access.

Purpose: The benefit of urethrectomy in patients with bladder cancer who are undergoing cystectomy is controversial. We describe the frequency of urethrectomy by bladder cancer stage and identify clinical characteristics that predict urethrectomy. We also investigated whether urethrectomy offers any additional independent survival benefit. Materials and Methods: A total of 2,401 men who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy between 1991 and 2002 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare database. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze factors driving urethrectomy. We then analyzed the records of 195 men who underwent urethrectomy to find predictors of that procedure as salvage for urethral recurrence vs concurrently with cystoprostatectomy or as a staged procedure. Using multivariate Cox regression analysis we analyzed whether urethrectomy had an independent effect on disease specific survival. Results: The only significant predictor of urethrectomy was stage. Patients at a teaching hospital were more likely to undergo salvage urethrectomy for recurrence vs immediate urethrectomy compared to those at urban nonteaching hospitals. Patient age, race, number of comorbidities and tumor stage were significant independent predictors of survival. Survival in men who underwent urethrectomy concurrently with cystoprostatectomy was higher than in those who did not undergo urethrectomy but not statistically significant (HR 0.775, 95% CI 0.592‐1.014, p 0.0632). Conclusions: Disease stage is related to urethrectomy performance. Age, race, stage and comorbidities were independent predictors of overall survival in patients with bladder cancer undergoing cystectomy. Urethrectomy did not confer a significant independent survival benefit.

With the introduction of orthotopic bladder substitution after radical cystectomy in patients with invasive bladder cancer urethral recurrences have become a therapeutic challenge.We retrospectively evaluated our patients with urethral recurrences treated with a urethra sparing approach after orthotopic bladder substitution. Depending on the extension of recurrence and eventual concomitant metastases patients were treated with urethrectomy, no treatment, systemic chemotherapy or intraurethral bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Three times the common dose of BCG (ImmuCyst, Aventis, Paris, France or OncoTICE, Organon, West Orange, New Jersey) in 150 ml NaCl 0.9% was used for intraurethral BCG perfusion therapy according to an institutional protocol using a modified Foley catheter. This regimen was repeated weekly for 6 weeks and patients were followed prospectively.Between 1985 and 2001, 15 of 371 patients (4%) who received an orthotopic bladder substitute had urethral recurrence. Two patients were treated with systemic chemotherapy (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) alone due to metastatic disease and 10 received intraurethral BCG therapy. Five of 6 patients (83%) with carcinoma in situ remained free of recurrence following treatment with BCG, while in 4 with papillary or invasive disease treatment failed. Three patients underwent urethrectomy, including 2 following failed BCG therapy for papillary disease.Carcinoma in situ urethral recurrence following orthotopic bladder substitution can be treated successfully with intraurethral BCG perfusion therapy in approximately 80% of patients. However, papillary and invasive transitional cell urethral recurrence should be treated with urethrectomy.

Purpose: We evaluated the results among patients with disabling interstitial cystitis treated by cystectomy, urethrectomy and creation of a continent colonic urinary reservoir (the Florida pouch). The value of psychological evaluation and pain localization techniques, as well as the use of a team approach in the evaluation of these patients were assessed.Materials and Methods: The 20 women and 2 men who underwent surgery for disabling interstitial cystitis ranged from 31 to 75 years old (mean age 48). The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 to 14 years (mean 7). All patients had undergone multiple prior therapies, including vesical hydrodistension, instillations, laser treatments, and use of tranquilizers and a variety of pain medications. Patients underwent a clinical, cystoscopic (with bladder biopsies) and urodynamic evaluation as well as examination by a gynecologist with expertise in vaginal ultrasonography. The last 5 patients underwent psychological evaluation and pain localization technique...

We determined the outcome in patients who underwent urethrectomy after cystectomy followed by routine urethral wash cytology versus those not followed by urethral wash cytology who presented with bleeding or urethral discharge. We retrospectively evaluated the outcome in post-cystectomy urethrectomy cases at our institution from 1994 to 2000.A total of 24 patients with a median age of 70.5 years underwent urethrectomy after cystectomy, including 17 due to asymptomatic, positive urethral wash cytology (group 1) and 7 who were not followed by urethral wash and presented with bleeding/urethral discharge (group 2). Median time from cystectomy to urethrectomy was 11.4 months (range 6.7 to 67.1). Median followup after cystectomy and urethrectomy was 37 and 27.7 months, respectively.Urethrectomy pathological evaluation showed pTis disease in cases 12 (50%), pT0 in 9 (37.5%) and pT1 in 3 (12.5%). Cystectomy pathology was organ confined (pT0, pTis and pT1-pT2b disease) in 12 cases (50%), nonorgan confined (pT3a-pT4) in 6 (25%) and pT any N1 in 5 (21%). Cystectomy pathology was unknown in 1 case. At the most recent followup there was no evidence of disease in 14 patients (58%), 5 (21%) were alive with disease, 3 (12.5%) were dead of disease, 1 (4%) was dead of other causes and disease status was unknown in 1 (4%). There was no statistical difference in survival in groups 1 and 2 when controlling for original bladder tumor stage. Cox regression analysis revealed that cystectomy pathology was the only statistically significant parameter of disease-free survival (p = 0.011), while urethrectomy pathology and followup method (urethral washing versus no washing) were not significant. There were no perioperative or postoperative complications and no patients died.There was no significant survival difference in patients followed and not followed with urethral washing. Longer followup and increased patient numbers are needed to determine the significance of these findings.

From March 1982 through July 1988, 76 men underwent nerve-sparing radical cystoprostatectomy for carcinoma of the bladder at our hospital. Of the 76 patients 2 (2.6%) had positive surgical margins (dome of the bladder and left ureter) and neither had positive margins at the site of nerve-sparing modifications. Of 3 patients (3.9%) who had local recurrence none had positive surgical margins. The 5-year actuarial local recurrence rate is 7.5%. Thirteen of 76 patients (17%) died of transitional cell carcinoma and 7 (9%) died of other causes, while 53 (70%) are alive without evidence of disease with a mean followup of 38.4 months. The 5-year actuarial survival rates are 64% over-all, 68% without disease and 78% disease-specific. Of the 42 evaluable men who underwent cystoprostatectomy alone 27 (64%) are potent, compared to 2 of the 12 men (17%) who also underwent urethrectomy. We conclude that the nerve-sparing modifications do not compromise cancer control, that local recurrence and survival rates are at least comparable to those achieved with standard radical cystoprostatectomy, and that it is possible to preserve potency in most men undergoing this procedure.

Recent understanding of the anatomy of the pelvic plexus and cavernous nerves to the penis has resulted in modified surgical techniques of radical prostatectomy and radical cystoprostatectomy that allow for preservation of potency in the majority of men undergoing these procedures. To date, however, a technique of urethrectomy that preserves potency has not been reported. We describe a modified approach to urethrectomy based on recent anatomical and surgical observations that has allowed for preservation of potency in 2 patients.

Immunocompetence has been postulated as an important defense against the progression of urothelial carcinoma. Three cases of de novo lower urinary tract carcinoma in renal transplant recipients demonstrated the potential for unusually rapid urothelial extension and invasion in chronically immunosuppressed patients. Two patients had a history of perineal condyloma acuminata; tumors from 1 of these harbored the genetic sequences of human papillomavirus type 6. One patient had multiple manifestations of cyclophosphamide-related urothelial injury, including bladder carcinoma. Treatment of 2 patients culminated in a radical operation during which the remaining native urinary system was resected completely, with sacrifice of the allograft kidney in 1 and diversion into an ileal conduit in 1. The remaining patient underwent urethrectomy and partial cystectomy with a sigmoid conduit. ( J. Urol., 144: 1233–1235, 1990 )

Of 273 male patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy between 1967 and 1987, 22 were regarded as at risk for urethral recurrence. These patients underwent simultaneous primary urethrectomy or urethrectomy shortly after cystectomy because of the histology of the cystectomy specimen. Of the remaining 251 patients a urethral recurrence was observed in 23 (9.2%). A patient with a urethral recurrence originally had undergone an operation at another hospital. The first urethral tumor recurrence was observed in 1977 but between October 1987 and May 1988, 7 patients were treated for an initial or secondary urethral recurrence. This finding suggests that the rate of urethral recurrence increases with improved survival rates after cystoprostatectomy and longer followup of these patients. Of the 24 patients who had urethral recurrence 21 showed multifocal tumor growth in the primary cystectomy specimen and 2 had unifocal tumors. The original histological status in the patient treated elsewhere is not known. The data suggest that primary simultaneous urethrectomy should be performed in all patients undergoing cystoprostatectomy for multifocal bladder tumors. Patients who retain the urethra require regular and life-long washout cytology studies of the urethra for early diagnosis of recurrent urethral tumor.

Partial urethrectomy (at least to the bulbous portion) was performed simultaneously in 128 consecutive male patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Transitional cell carcinoma developed subsequently in the distal urethral remnant in 5 patients (4.0%) followed for 2.6 to 5.7 years (mean 4.1 years) postoperatively. These 5 patients originally had nonpapillary, multifocal and histologically high grade (5) and low stage (4) bladder cancer, 4 with associated carcinoma in situ. Our results suggest that simultaneous total urethrectomy should be considered strongly for patients with high grade nonpapillary multifocal bladder cancer associated with carcinoma in situ. Furthermore, the pattern of distal urethral recurrence in our patients may provide information regarding the appropriate management of the male urethra in potential candidates for continent urinary diversion. (J. Urol., 142: 983–987, 1989)

During a 10-year period 174 consecutive male patients underwent radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection for transitional cell cancer of the bladder. Urethrectomy, either performed en bloc with the cystectomy or secondarily, was required in 23 patients. Of these 23 patients 9 died of metastatic disease and 4 deaths were believed to be directly related to development of tumor in the urethra. A careful review of our data suggests that patient selection is possible so that urethrectomy in all patients undergoing cystectomy may be avoided, while maintaining the ability to treat those at risk for carcinoma in the retained urethra before invasion occurs. We recommend the following indications for urethrectomy: 1) en bloc cystourethrectomy for clinically overt involvement of the anterior urethra with carcinoma or tumor extending into the prostatic urethra, 2) immediate or delayed total urethrectomy either during the initial hospitalization or within 2 months of cystectomy for all patients with pathological evidence of invasion of the prostate (P4) or carcinoma in situ of the prostatic urethra, 3) indefinite close followup of all patients whose bladder specimens demonstrate carcinoma in situ (urethral cytology within 4 months of cystectomy and every year thereafter, and immediate total urethrectomy for any urethral cytology positive for malignant cells), and 4) immediate total urethrectomy for any patient experiencing bloody urethral discharge.

A case of primary amyloidosis localized to the urethra and glans penis is described. Progression of urethral disease during a 3-year period necessitated radical anterior urethrectomy and plastic reconstruction.

When urethrectomy is indicated in the male patient in combination with cystoprostatectomy for diffuse transitional cell carcinoma, an additional challenge to reconstruction and sexual rehabilitation will be encountered. Inflatable penile prostheses were implanted in 19 patients who had undergone cystoprostatectomy with prophylactic urethrectomy. Of the patients 13 underwent cystoprostatectomy with en bloc urethrectomy and delayed placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis. The remaining 6 patients required urethrectomy and simultaneous implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis 6 to 12 weeks after radical cystectomy. All 19 patients healed appropriately and had an adequate functioning prosthesis. However, results in patients in whom the glandular urethra could be preserved safely were far superior to those in patients requiring total urethrectomy. This was so because of easier and improved cylinder placement with better support to the glans, increased glandular sensation and a more acceptable penile appearance. The inflatable penile prosthesis can be used successfully in the cystourethrectomy patient with gratifying results, especially when the glandular urethra remains intact.

We report on 2 men with multifocal papillary adenocarcinoma arising in the bulbous urethra proximal to a urethral stricture. Histologically, the tumors appeared similar to villous adenocarcinomas of the colon and rectum. Both patients were treated with segmental urethrectomy. Villous adenocarcinoma of the male urethra is a distinctive clinicopathologic entity. Although uncommon it should be added to squamous cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma on the list of tumor types causing cancer of the male urethra.

The records of 119 men who had undergone radical cystectomy for cancer of the bladder were reviewed for involvement of the urethra at the time of cystectomy and for later recurrence of urethral tumor. Urethral recurrences contributed significantly to the over-all pelvic recurrence rate and were associated with a uniformly poor prognosis. Prophylactic urethrectomy is indicated when pathologic examination reveals multifocal tumors, concurrent upper tract tumors, diffuse carcinoma in situ, involvement of the trigone or prostatic urethra, or positive urethral margin on frozen section. Those patients not undergoing urethrectomy should be followed with periodic urethral wash cytology.