Management of the urethra in men undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

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.