Transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra in men and women associated with bladder cancer.

Multifocal tumor occurrence in the entire urinary tract in time and space is a well-recognized characteristic of transitional cell carcinoma. Synchronous and asynchronous urethral transitional cell carcinoma, in relation to bladder cancer in male and female patients, is the subject of the present mini-review. It is imperative to rule out male and female patients having a high risk for urethral involvement or urethral recurrence. In male patients, prostatic urethral involvement and stromal invasion mainly due to in situ extension of carcinoma seems to be the most important risk factor. In female patients, bladder neck involvement by cancer seems most important. By excluding male and female bladder cancer patients having these characteristics for simultaneous urethrectomy, other patients are good candidates for reconstruction of the urinary tract after cystectomy by an orthotopic neobladder which will offer a good quality of life to bladder cancer patients.