Male urethral carcinoma: analysis of treatment outcome

Urology. 1999 Jun;53(6):1126-32. doi: 10.1016/s0090-4295(98)00659-1.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate our experience with primary carcinomas of the male urethra and to analyze the impact of tumor variables and treatment on overall, disease-specific, local recurrence-free, and metastasis-free survival.

Methods: Between 1958 and 1996, we identified 46 men with primary carcinoma of the bulbar and anterior urethra. The median follow-up was 125 months (1 to 336). The patients were stratified by stage, nodal status, histologic type, treatment, type of surgery, site of disease, year at diagnosis, and smoking status.

Results: The overall survival and disease-specific survival rates at 5 years were 42% and 50%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival rates at 5 years were 51% and 56%, respectively. The overall survival rate was 83% for superficial disease versus 36% for invasive tumors. The overall survival rate was 26% for tumors of the bulbar urethra versus 69% for tumors of the anterior urethra.

Conclusions: Current modalities of treatment are ineffective for local control and survival. New treatment strategies are needed for urethral cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Urethral Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Urethral Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urethral Neoplasms / surgery*