Aggressive primary urethral malignancy masquerading as stricture urethra: Unusual presentation of a rare malignancy

Bladder outlet obstruction in an elderly male patient is most of the time diagnosed as prostatomegaly or stricture urethra unless there is a high index of suspicion for other differential diagnoses. Rare tumors like urethral malignancy may be misdiagnosed due to their varied and delayed mode of presentation. Here, we present a case of a patient who presented with acute urinary retention and was suspected to be a stricture urethra which ultimately turned out to be an aggressive urethral tumor. Investigations such as retrograde urethrogram, ultrasound, or cystoscopy which are the most common diagnostic modalities in a patient with lower urinary tract symptoms may not diagnose urethral tumors. Delayed diagnosis is common in these tumors resulting in a lesser chance for curative treatment. A high index of suspicion with a lesser threshold for investigations like MRI is pivotal for early diagnosis in these patients.

Laser epilation of luminal hair following skin graft urethroplasty for hypospadias: the hair snare

A 66-year-old man, who underwent urethral reconstruction using skin grafts for hypospadias five decades earlier as a 13-year-old child, presented with burning micturition and recurrent UTI. A retrograde urethrogram along with micturating cystourethrogram revealed a bulbar urethral stricture and broad neck distal penile urethral diverticulum. On a cystourethroscopic examination, a urethral diverticulum was seen just proximal to the hypospadiac external urethral meatus with 12–15 hair follicles inside the diverticulum and a 1 cm long mid-bulbar stricture. Visual internal urethrotomy for the bulbar stricture, a diverticular neck incision, laser epilation and hair follicle photocoagulation was performed using a 30 W Ho:YAG laser. The depilated hair tufts were extracted. The process was repeated again in 6 months due to recurrent symptoms. A patent urethra with a wide open diverticulum without any residual hair follicles was confirmed. No perioperative complications noted and the patient is doing well on 1 month of follow-up.

Pulsed fluoroscopy in retrograde urethrograms

Objectives: Retrograde urethrogram (RUG) is one of the corner stones for the reconstructive urologist. With hundreds of RUGs being performed yearly in busy reconstructive center, the concern for radiation exposure to the patient and the medical personnel becomes important. We propose the use of pulsed fluoroscopy to decrease the radiation exposure for patient and medical personnel. Methods: Patients presenting to our center with urethral strictures between March 2016 and March 2019 were included in our study. The fluoroscopy machine was set for pulsed fluoroscopy at a setting of 4 pulses per second. Patient information including demographics, pre-operative diagnosis, Intra-op findings, and fluoroscopy time were recorded. RUG was performed to localize the stricture pre-operatively and post-operatively. Results: A total of 185 RUG were performed between March 2016 and March 2019. The median age was 63 (14-81). The remaining 154 RUG had 77 performed pre-operatively and 77 performed post-operatively. Pathology was identified in 77 patients. Intra-operative confirmation of pre-operative finding was found in 76 patients (98.7%). Median fluoroscopy time was found to be 2.43 seconds (0.5 sec- 6.5 sec). Conclusions: Pulsed fluoroscopy reduces the radiation exposure in RUG without a reduction in the diagnostic capacity of the test. Reduction of fluoroscopy can have beneficial cumulative effect as per the ALARA principle for patients and medical personnel. Further studies with randomized control trials could be of great benefit.

Bulbar urethrocavernous fistula in setting of inflatable penile prosthesis: a case report

Background Urethral injury or erosion of an inflatable penile prosthetic (IPP) cylinder is a rare complication of IPP placement. It can present with varying symptoms and management can be difficult with risk for future complications. We present a patient with an eroded IPP who developed a secondary contralateral urethrocavernous fistula requiring repeat urethroplasty. We also describe the literature surrounding these complications and strategies to prevent them. Case presentation A 69-year-old man with poorly controlled diabetes presented to our clinic with 6 months of intermittent white urethral discharge first noted after IPP removal and replacement by an outside urologist for device malfunction. Office cystoscopy revealed an eroded right-sided prosthetic cylinder in the bulbar urethra. The patient was taken to the operating room for IPP explantation with closure of right corporal defect, left sided malleable prosthesis placement, and primary excision with anastomosis of his bulbar urethra. A catheter was left in place for two weeks postoperatively, at which time a peri-catheter retrograde urethrogram was performed which showed no evidence of contrast extravasation and his catheter was subsequently removed. Several months later, he presented with recurrent urethral discharge without evidence of recurrent erosion on cystoscopy with development of scrotal abscesses following office cystoscopy, concerning for an unidentified urethral defect. He returned to the operating room for scrotal exploration and was noted on cystoscopy to have a pinpoint fistula between his left corporal body and his bulbar urethra. He underwent left sided malleable prosthetic explant, and non-transecting bulbar urethroplasty. Peri-catheter retrograde urethrogram two weeks later showed no contrast extravasation and he has had no recurrence of urethral discharge or scrotal abscesses since. Conclusions Urethral erosion and urethrocavernous fistula formation are rare complications of penile prosthesis placement. Risks are elevated in patients with corporal fibrosis, diabetes, those undergoing penile implant revision surgery, and those requiring prolonged urethral catheterization.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VENTRALAND DORSAL BUCCAL MUCOSA GRAFT AUGMENTATION URETHROPLASTY IN STRICTURE BULBAR URETHRA.

Objective: To compare long term outcomes of buccal mucosa graft(BMG) augmentation urethroplasty for long-segment bulbar urethral strictures done by placing the graft ventrally and dorsally. Material and Methods: We conducted a single institution retrospective study on 32 patients who underwent BMG augmentation urethroplasty for non traumatic bulbar urethral stricture between January 2010- December 2018. The cases were divided into two groups based on the site of placement of the BMG graft i.e (a) Ventral (n=22) , (b)Dorsal(n=10). Follow-up period was from one year to five years. Patients with failed outcomes underwent Urethroscopy or Retrograde Urethrogram to note the site of recurrence of stricture. Results: Out of 32 cases 26 (81%) were successful and 6 (19%) failed.The success rates for ventral and dorsal BMG augmentation procedures were 81% and 70%,respectively(p=0.45).Among 6 failed cases 3 (9%)cases had stricture at proximal anastomotic site,2 (2%)cases at distal anastomotic site& 1 (1%)case at pan graft site(p=0.08). Conclusion: The overall success rate for BMG augmentation urethroplasty is equal for all techniques.Dorsal onlay urethroplasty provides better exposure of proximal anastomotic site thus it is associated with minimum proximal anastomotic site recurrence rates.Patient with extensive spongiofibrosis and long segment strictures had higher rate of failure.

Outcome of Dorsal Onlay Urethroplasty for Long Segment Anterior Urethral Stricture: Experience of 31 Cases

Objective: To determine the short-term outcome of dorsolateral onlay urethroplasty in the treatment of long segment anterior urethral stricture. Materials and Methods: A prospective study from May 2011 to September 2012 is carried out in department of Urology, National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, Sher-EBanglanagar, Dhaka. Thirty one patients with long anterior urethral stricture were treated by a dorsolateral onlay buccal mucosa graft. After voiding trial, they were followed up at 3 weeks and 3 months with history, physical examination, uroflowmetry and retrograde urethrogram (RGU) if required (uroflowmetry <15 ml/sec). Patients were further followedup at 3 months interval with uroflowmetry and retrograde urethrogram (RGU) if required (uroflowmetry <15 ml/sec). Successful outcome was defined as normal voiding with no surgical intervention after catheter removal. Results: Mean stricture length was 42.49±12.77 mm (range 24-70 mm) and mean follow up was 8 months (range 6 to 12 months). Three patients were found to develop stricture at anastomotic site, during follow-up and required optical internal urethrotomy and was considered as failure. One patient developed wound infection which resolved after regular dressing. Success rate was 90.32%. Conclusion: Dorsolateral onlay BMG urethroplasty is feasible for long anterior urethral stricture with good short term surgical outcome. Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 19, No. 1, Jan 2016 p.28-31

Outcome of Anastomotic Urethroplasty: Single-Center Experience

Objective: To determine the short term outcome of anastomotic urethroplasty. Material and Methods: From January 2013 to June 2015, 25 male patients underwent anastomotic urethroplasty at our center and were analyzed prospectively. Mean age was 28.1 years (range 13-50), average stricture length was 2.5 cm (range 1.5-2.5). Patients with post-prostatectomy stricture, stricture more than 2.5 cm in length or patients of stricture with neurogenic bladder and patients with any perineal disease were excluded from the study. Retrograde urethrogram and voiding cysto-urethrogram was done in every patient to assess stricture length and location. Stricture excision and end-to-end anastomosis of urethra with spatulation was performed in every patient. Minimum followup period was 6 months and maximum 30 months. All patients had obliterative stricture. Results: The mean operative time was 105 min (range 90-120). Four patients (16%) developed complications postoperatively. Wound infection occurred in 01 (04%) patient. Stricture recurrence found in 02 (08%) patients and erectile dysfunction in 01 (04%) patients. Twenty one patients (84%) had excellent outcome, Two (08%) needed optical internal urethrotomy and of them one (04%) failed to respond. Conclusion: Anastomotic urethroplasty has a high success rate of 92%. It is technically straightforward with minimal morbidity. Long term follow-up is strongly recommended for ultimate success. Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 19, No. 1, Jan 2016 p.38-42

Dorsolateral Onlay Urethroplasty for the Long Segment Anterior Urethral Stricture: Outcome of 31 Cases

Objective: This study is designed to observe the short-term outcomes of dorsolateral onlay urethroplasty to treat long segment anterior urethral stricture. Materials and Methods: A prospective study from May 2011 to September 2012 is carried out in department of Urology, National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, Sher-EBanglanagar, Dhaka. Thirty one patients with long anterior urethral stricture were treated by a dorsolateral onlay buccal mucosa graft. After voiding trial, they were followed up at 3 weeks and 3 months with history, physical examination, uroflowmetry and retrograde urethrogram (RGU) if required (uroflowmetry <15 ml/sec). Patients were further followedup at 3 months interval with uroflowmetry and retrograde urethrogram (RGU) if required (uroflowmetry <15 ml/sec). Successful outcome was defined as normal voiding with no surgical intervention after catheter removal. Results: Mean stricture length was 42.49±12.77 mm (range 24-70 mm) and mean follow up was 8 months (range 6 to 12 months). Three patients were found to develop stricture at anastomotic site, during follow-up and required optical internal urethrotomy and was considered as failure. One patient developed wound infection which resolved after regular dressing. Success rate was 90.32%. Conclusion: Dorsolateral onlay BMG urethroplasty is feasible for long anterior urethral stricture with good short term surgical outcome. Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 18, No. 1, Jan 2015 p.12-15