Primary urethral malignancy: review of 22 cases.

Twenty-two cases of primary urethral malignancy have been diagnosed at the Medical University Hospital from 1955 to 1976. These lesions are uncommon and prognosis is poor except when disease is diagnosed in the early stages and treated aggressively. Anterior lesions are more often diagnosed at an early stage but may be mistaken for benign processes, delaying appropriate therapy. Our experience with urethral malignancies is reviewed and includes an association of carcinoma with urethral caruncles and diverticula. The first reported association of a urethral diverticulum with carcinoma in the male is presented and two additional cases of adenocarcinoma in female urethral diverticula are reported. Excision of urethral caruncles and diverticula is encouraged.