Primary urethral tumors in dogs.

In a review of cases of neoplasia in dogs seen at The Animal Medical Center during a 6-year period, 20 cases of primary urethral tumors were found. The majority of these cases were in older dogs (av abe, 10.4 years) and females (18/20). The most common clinical signs were hematuria and stranguria. Nineteen of the 20 tumors were diagnosed clinically, and the most consistent and useful diagnostic method was pneumocystography-cystography, with voiding urethrography. Of the 5 tumor types (squamous cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, and embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma), squamous cell carcinoma was the most common (12/20). Metastasis occurred in 6 of the 20 dogs. Because of metastasis to regional lymph nodes and diffuse extent of the tumor in the urethra in many of the dogs, a caudal abdominal approach for surgical excision is recommended if treatment is attempted.