Female urethra adenocarcinoma: report of two cases and bibliographic review.

OBJECTIVE

Primary cancer of female urethra is rare and represents about 0.02% of all neoplasias found in women and the majority of them are squamous cell carcinomas. Diagnosis is difficult due to the fact that the disease has usually reached advanced stage. We report our experience with two patients with urethral adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We describe clinical-pathological findings and treatment carried out in two patients with urethral adenocarcinoma. We review the literature focusing on the origin of these tumors and available treatment options.

RESULTS

After diagnosis, radical surgery was performed in both patients. Despite this, one patient died of local progression. The other patient is still alive and free of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Adenocarcinoma of the female urethra is a rare tumor of difficult diagnosis. Surgery is the only curative treatment. Chemotherapy (CT ) and radiotherapy (RT ) must be used in patients in whom surgery is not possible, although there is no consensus on the best therapeutic approach. Prognosis tends to be poor due to delay in diagnosis.