The Right Instrument for the Right Purpose: Spreading the Use of Small Caliber Ureteroscope for the Inspection of the Male and Female Urethra

The inspection of the urethra in patients with documented or suspected urethral stricture should be carried out with small caliber ureteroscope of 6/7.5Ch. Different from flexible cystoscope (16Ch) or resectoscope (26Ch), small caliber ureteroscope allows a comprehensive evaluation of the stricture, including its length and the status of the mucosa in its proximity, without injuring or overstretching the urethra. With a small caliber ureteroscope it is also possible to cross the stricture, allowing the evaluation of the proximal urethra, the external urethral sphincter, and the bladder. A 6/7.5Ch ureteroscope also allows estimation of the real caliber of the stricture, providing a useful landmark for further treatment decisions.

Visualising the proximal urethra by MRI voiding scan: results of a prospective clinical trial evaluating a novel approach to radiotherapy simulation for prostate cancer

Background: Delineating the proximal urethra can be critical for radiotherapy planning but is challenging on computerised tomography (CT) imaging. Materials and methods: We trialed a novel non-invasive technique to allow visualisation of the proximal urethra using a rapid sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol to visualise the urinary flow in patients voiding during the simulation scan. Results: Of the seven patients enrolled, four were able to void during the MRI scan. For these four patients, direct visualisation of urinary flow through the proximal urethra was achieved. The average volume of the proximal urethra contoured on voiding MRI was significantly higher than the proximal urethra contoured on CT, 4·07 and 1·60 cc, respectively (p = 0·02). The proximal urethra location also differed; the Dice coefficient average was 0·28 (range 0–0·62). Findings: In this small, proof-of-concept prospective clinical trial, the volume and location of the proximal urethra differed significantly when contoured on a voiding MRI scan compared to that determined by a conventional CT simulation. The shape of the proximal urethra on voiding MRI may be more anatomically correct compared to the proximal urethra shape determined with a semi-rigid catheter in place.

The Urothelium: Life in a Liquid Environment

The urothelium, which lines the renal pelvis, ureters, urinary bladder, and proximal urethra, forms a high-resistance but adaptable barrier that surveils its mechanochemical environment and communicates changes to underlying tissues including afferent nerve fibers and the smooth muscle. The goal of this review is to summarize new insights into urothelial biology and function that have occurred in the past decade. After familiarizing the reader with key aspects of urothelial histology, we describe new insights into urothelial development and regeneration. This is followed by an extended discussion of urothelial barrier function, including information about the roles of the glycocalyx, ion and water transport, tight junctions, and the cellular and tissue shape changes and other adaptations that accompany expansion and contraction of the lower urinary tract. We also explore evidence that the urothelium can alter the water and solute composition of urine during normal physiology and in response to overdistension. We complete the review by providing an overview of our current knowledge about the urothelial environment, discussing the sensor and transducer functions of the urothelium, exploring the role of circadian rhythms in urothelial gene expression, and describing novel research tools that are likely to further advance our understanding of urothelial biology.

First Molecular Genetic Characterization of Skene’s Gland Adenocarcinoma

Primary urethral adenocarcinomas are very rare neoplasms accounting for <10% of all urethral carcinomas. Site of their origin is unclear, but they seem to arise from Skene’s paraurethral glands, which is the female homologue of the male prostate. The aim of this article is to report the first case of Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma in which a molecular genetic profiling was performed. The patient was a 73-year-old woman with a polypoid lesion sized 3 × 2 cm located at the interface between the bladder neck and the proximal urethra. Transurethral resection was performed and small tissue fragments with positive margins were obtained. Histology revealed an epithelial neoplasm consisting of cribriform structures located in the subepithelial connective tissue of the bladder wall and proximal urethra. The lesion showed positive immunohistochemical staining with prostate specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase, NKX3.1, and alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase. Using the Illumina TruSight Tumor 170 next-generation sequencing assay, a mutation and loss of heterozygosity of the phosphatase and tensin homologue ( PTEN) gene was detected. No fusion in any of the examined genes was found using this assay as well as FusionPlex Solid Tumor Kit and FusionPlex Sarcoma kit assays from ArcherDX. Given the rarity of Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma, it is uncertain whether the same grading and prognostic criteria that are currently used for prostatic cancer apply here as well. It is also unclear what treatment strategy should be applied, but according to the available literature, it seems that local excision or wide surgical resection could represent sufficient therapeutic modalities.

Aggressive course of a rare type of urethral cancer in women

The article provides a clinical case of urethral cancer in women. Primary urethral carcinomas are rare, less than 1% of all malignant tumors. According to the Rarecare Cancer Surveillance Agency for Europe (RARECARE), urethral cancer in women is 0.6 and 1.6 in men per 1 million people per year. A 56-year-old patient with histologically verified clear cell adenocarcinoma of the proximal urethra was monitored for 18 months. An aggressive course of the tumor process has been shown, which led to the need to perform anterior exenteration of the pelvic organs. The histogenesis of primary clear cell urethral adenocarcinoma has not been definitively determined. The atypical external localization in the described case suggests the periurethral origin of this cancerous tumor from the Skenes glands. The demonstration of a rare form of urethral cancer, clear cell adenocarcinoma, contributes to the accumulation of knowledge about its histopathology and clinical course, as well as increasing cancer alertness in the treatment of urethral diseases in doctors of any specialty.

Surgical treatment of refractory incontinence in the bitch

Urinary incontinence is a common condition in spayed, female dogs with a reported prevalence between 3.1% and 20.1%. In the majority of dogs with acquired urinary incontinence, urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is the underlying cause. Approximately 15% of bitches that initially respond to medical therapy ultimately become refractory. Surgical intervention is indicated when patients do not respond or become refractory to medical treatment. Based on the current literature, placement of an artificial urethral sphincter, i.e. an inflatable cuff around the proximal urethra connected to a subcutaneous injection port, provides a very reliable and longterm incontinence resolution in bitches and has a low complication rate.

Balloon dilation of a urethral stricture caused by a congenital obstructive proximal urethral membrane (COPUM) in a dog

Congenital urethral strictures are well recognised in human beings and have recently been described in two cats but have not been previously reported in dogs. A 10-month-old female English Bull Terrier presented with a life-long history of being unable to pass a normal stream of urine. Urethrocystoscopy confirmed the presence of a stricture lesion in the proximal urethra. This thin, membranous structure was effaced under endoscopic visualisation using a 10 mm diameter balloon-dilation catheter. Complete and sustained resolution of clinical signs occurred after a single dilation procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a congenital urethral stricture in a dog and the term congenital obstructive proximal urethral membrane may be useful for describing these lesions in the future.