Urachal tumour: case report of a poorly understood carcinoma

World J Surg Oncol. 2009 Nov 7:7:82. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-7-82.

Abstract

Background: Urachal carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm associated with poor prognosis.

Case presentation: A 45-year-old man was admitted with complaints of abdominal pain and pollakisuria. A soft mass was palpable under his navel. TC-scan revealed a 11 x 6 cm tumor, which was composed of a cystic lesion arising from the urachus and a solid mass component at the urinary bladder dome. The tumor was removed surgically. Histological examination detected poor-differentiated adenocarcinoma, which had invaded the urinary bladder. The patient has been followed up without recurrence for 6 months.

Conclusion: The urachus is the embryological remnant of urogenital sinus and allantois. Involution usually happens before birth and urachus is present as a median umbilical ligament. The pathogenesis of urachal tumours is not fully understood. Surgery is the treatment of choice and role of adjuvant treatment is not clearly understood.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Cystoscopy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Urachus / embryology
  • Urachus / pathology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Organotechnetium Compounds