Transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra in men having cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Charcteristics of urethral transitional cell carcinoma in patients who have undergone cystectomy for bladder cancer have been reviewed. The retained urethra was the site of urothelial malignancy in 7 per cent of 348 patients who underwent cystectomy alone. Urethras removed during prophylactic cystourethrectomy in 110 patients showed unsuspected carcinoma in situ and marked atypic in 12.5 per cent. Patients with urethral cancer were at greater risk for meatal and upper tract tumors, a reflection of multicentric tumor neogenesis, and at greater risk for perineal tumors and inguinal metastases, a reflection of direct invasion. Cytology is advocated for examining the retained urethra. However, urethrectomy to include a fossa navicularis and glandular meatus at the time of cystectomy seems justified as a definitive means of guarding against the often asymptomatic and potentially lethal urethral occurrences of transitional cell carcinoma. Furthermore, incontinuity removal of the bladder and urethra more nearly satisfies the requirements for cancer surgery by avoiding transection of a tumor containing viscus.