Benign female periurethral masses

A Paraurethral Vaginal Mass in Rural Setting: A Case Report

Paraurethral vaginal leiomyoma is the infrequent case to be described. Approximately 300 cases have been described so far. Imaging modalities aid in identifying the morphological, structural characteristics of the mass and its relationship to the surrounding structures. Thirty-six years old married women presented with a vulvar mass of (3x5) cm2. Her associated complaints were left shift of the urinary stream and dyspareunia. Ultrasonography and cystography revealed a mass with no relationship with bladder or uterine structure. Surgical excision was performed. The histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of paraurethral vaginal leiomyoma. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice and diagnosis is confirmed by histopathological examination.

Skene's gland cyst excision

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

We review our experience with long-term outcome after Skene's gland cyst excision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After receiving institutional review board approval, we reviewed a surgical database of all procedures performed by two surgeons at one institution for Skene's gland cyst excision. Parameters evaluated include presenting symptoms, preoperative evaluation, excision site, perioperative complications, and clinical outcomes. The technique of surgical excision is presented in the accompanying video, and includes cystoscopy, dissection of cyst wall from the floor of the urethra, complete removal of the cyst wall, and primary vaginal-wall closure.

RESULTS

From 2001 to 2013, ten women underwent Skene's gland cyst excision. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years (range 3-96 months). Presenting symptoms were dyspareunia (4), urinary tract infections (4), vaginal mass (1), and voiding dysfunction (1). Five patients had more than one presenting symptom. To exclude urethral diverticulum, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done in all patients and a voiding cystourethrogram in five. No perioperative complications were reported. A distal meatoplasty was done in two women. No recurrence occurred. Eight of ten women who were sexually active remained sexually active postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Excision of Skene's gland cyst is a safe procedure with acceptable long-term functional outcomes.

Female paraurethral leiomyoma: treatment and long-term follow-up

INTRODUCTION

We describe our experience with evaluating the ideal management of female paraurethral leiomyomas from imaging to surgery and follow-up.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and January 2012, we treated six women (age range 32-49 years) affected by paraurethral leiomyoma of different sizes.

RESULTS

All the six patients underwent transvaginal excision of the mass. They are free of recurrence at follow-up (range 32-72 months). Two patients developed stress urinary incontinence after the excision: in both cases, incontinence was corrected by a tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O) placement. In one patient, a fascial sling was necessary to repair a urethral lesion that developed during surgical excision of the mass.

CONCLUSION

A well-defined protocol for diagnosing and managing a paraurethral mass had not been established as yet due the rarity of the mass. We suggest performing pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a primary examination, followed by lesion biopsy. Complete surgical resection performed transvaginally should be the treatment of choice. As paraurethral leiomyomas does not originate from intraurethral smooth-muscle component, urethral lesion is rare. Excision of female urethral leiomyoma transvaginally is safe, and postoperative urinary incontinence, if any, can be easily corrected with minimally invasive tecniques.

Female urethral diverticulum: cases report and literature

Introduction

A female urethral diverticulum is an uncommon pathologic entity. It can manifest with a variety of symptoms involving the lower urinary tract. Our objective is to describe the various aspects of the diverticulum of the female urethra such as etiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Cases presentation

We report five female patients, without prior medical history. They had different symptoms: dysuria in four cases, recurrent urinary tract infection in three cases, stress incontinence in two cases and hematuria in two cases. All patients had dyspareunia. The physical exams found renitent mass located in the endovaginal side of urethra which drained pus in two cases. Urethrocystography found a diverticulum of urethra in all cases. Our five patients underwent diverticulotomy by endovaginal approach. The course after surgical treatment was favorable. The urinary catheter was withdrawn after ten days. Some recurrent symptoms were reported.

Conclusion

Evaluation of recurrent urinary complaints in young women can lead to the finding of a diverticulum of urethra. Urethrocystography can reveal this entity. Diverticulectomy by endovaginal approach is the best choice for treatment.

Diagnosis and management of female urethral diverticulum

Female urethral diverticulum is a disorder that affects 1% to 6% of women. Women with diverticula may present with a variety of nonspecific genitourinary complaints, making the diagnosis challenging. Diagnosis is made by physical examination and can be confirmed with cystourethroscopy and/or radiographic imaging. Asymptomatic women can be managed conservatively, whereas treatment for symptomatic women usually involves a diverticulectomy. Potential complications from diverticulectomy include diverticulum recurrence, de novo stress incontinence, urethrovaginal fistula, urethral stricture, and recurrent urinary tract infections. This article reviews the etiology, differential diagnoses, evaluation, and management of female urethral diverticula.

Large symptomatic periurethral cystic lesion in a male

We report an unusual case of a periurethral cystic mass in a 43-year-old man who presented with perineal pain, dysuria, painful ejaculation, and post-ejaculatory lower urinary tract symptoms. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a multiocular periurethral cystic structure. On surgical exploration of the urethra, a cystic lesion was identified and removed. The mass was classified as a complex periurethral cyst from the histopathologic findings.

A leiomyoma presenting as an exophytic periurethral mass: a case report and review of the literature

Periurethral masses in females are rarely observed, although they can occur anywhere along the genitourinary tract. They may be detected on physical examination or present with symptoms such as vaginal swelling, bladder outlet obstruction, vaginal bleeding, hematuria, or urinary tract infection. We report a sexually inactive, 27-year-old woman with an exophytic, fimbria-like periurethral mass. The benign nature of the lesion was suspected on the basis of the findings of magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical enucleation was performed. The microscopic examination revealed a urethral leiomyoma. Immunohistochemical study confirmed a leiomyoma with positive staining for smooth muscle actin and negative staining for S-100.

Diagnosis and management of periurethral cysts

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Periurethral cysts are a rare entity that may be confused with urethral diverticula. The protocol for diagnosis and management of these lesions is still unclear. We present our experience with six patients presenting with periurethral cysts.

METHODS

From 2001 to 2005 we evaluated six patients with a paraurethral mass. History, physical examination, laboratory and radiographic findings were analyzed to determine factors helpful in mass diagnosis. Cyst excision was performed via trans-vaginal approach in all patients and outcomes of this approach were assessed.

RESULTS

Six female patients, average age of 29.7 years, presented with the complaint of a paraurethral mass. Transvaginal sonography was performed in two patients to confirm the presence of a periurethral cyst. Cystourethroscopy in all patients revealed no communication between the cyst and the urethra or presence of other lesions. Pathology revealed a benign cyst in all patients. No cyst recurrence has been seen in any patient.

CONCLUSION

Most periurethral cysts can be diagnosed by physical examination. The diagnosis may be confirmed with transvaginal sonography. Cystourethroscopy should be performed to rule out other pathology, but may be done in the same setting as surgical excision. Complete surgical excision is effective and is associated with minimal risk of recurrence during short-term follow-up.

Female urethral diverticula

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to summarize the presentation, investigation and management of female urethral diverticulum, a condition often overlooked and frequently misdiagnosed. Hopefully, greater awareness will lead to more timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recently there has been considerable emphasis on correctly identifying this condition. Newer imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging are now widely available and urethral diverticula that previously were unrecognized, such as noncommunicating diverticula, can now be more easily detected. The character of the diverticula can be accurately determined with appropriate imaging and this can lead to improved preoperative planning.

SUMMARY

Traditional contrast studies are now being superseded by advanced cross-sectional imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging and even virtual computed tomography urethroscopy. These provide much greater tissue definition; however, very few studies directly compare the myriad of contrast-based, ultrasonographic and cross-sectional investigations that are available. Therefore, although the condition is eminently treatable, there remains little standardization in the investigation of this condition. The greatest single improvement, however, in management would come from more widespread clinical awareness of the condition and its presentation.

Female urethral diverticula

Urethral diverticula are frequently under-diagnosed. The pathogenesis of this condition is poorly understood, and these lesions represent a spectrum of disorders ranging from isolated suburethral cysts to herniation of the urethral lining into the vaginal mucosa. Women with this disorder frequently complain of a host of symptoms referable to the lower urinary and genital tracts. Accurate diagnosis is based on history and clinical evaluation. Perineal ultrasound and MRI are often helpful. Repeated courses of antibiotics and urethral dilatation often fail to resolve the problem, and definitive intervention usually requires surgical excision to provide relief. This chapter describes the current management of this condition, and it heralds a re-look at the patho-aetiology in view of recent MRI findings of symptomatic non-communicating microcystic lesions.

Surgical procedures for urethral diverticula in women in the United States, 1979?1997

The objective of this study was to describe national rates of surgery for urethral diverticula in women. Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS), a federal database that samples inpatient hospitals in the United States, were analyzed from 1979 to 1997 for diagnosis and procedure codes using the ICD-9-CM classification system. The difference between the median age-adjusted rates from 1979 to 1988 and 1989 to 1997 were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test since the yearly rates fluctuated in a nonlinear fashion. Data from the National Statistics for Ambulatory Surgery (NSAS) database were analyzed from 1994 to 1996 in a similar fashion. The average age of women undergoing surgery for urethral diverticula increased from 41.6+/-15.1 years from 1979 to 1988 to 49.4+/-14.8 years from 1989 to 1997 (p=0.02). The average length of hospital stay decreased from 8.4+/-5.0 days in 1979 to 3.2+/-1.7 days in 1997 (p=0.007). Approximately 27,000 inpatient procedures were performed for the repair of urethral diverticula in the United States over a 19-year period, ranging from an estimated 500 to 3400 cases per year. The median age-adjusted rate of procedures decreased from 14.2 per 1 million women from 1979 to 1988 to 6.4 per 1 million women from 1989 to 1997 (p=0.009). Data from the NSAS indicated that an average of 6.7 surgeries per 1 million women per year were performed in the outpatient setting from 1994 to 1996. Age-adjusted rates of inpatient surgery for urethral diverticula were threefold higher for black compared to white women. Inpatient surgical repair of urethral diverticula is three times as high in black as compared to white women. These procedures are infrequent and rates appear to have decreased over time.

Periurethral Masses: Etiology and Diagnosis in a Large Series of Women

OBJECTIVE

To describe the differential diagnosis of periurethral masses in a consecutive series extracted from a single tertiary urogynecologic practice database.

METHODS

A patient database of a private urology and urogynecology practice with 1,950 women was searched for patients who were found to have a periurethral mass during the accrual dates of 1994 to 2002, and these records were reviewed for diagnostic testing and results. All women provided a history, completed a questionnaire, and underwent physical examination, voiding diary, cystoscopy, and videourodynamic testing; selected patients then underwent additional imaging.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine (4%) patients aged 41.2 +/- 14 years were identified. Of these, 72 (91%) had been referred for evaluation of persistent irritative lower urinary tract symptoms or incontinence. Seven patients (9%) had been referred specifically because of a periurethral mass. Sixty-six patients (84%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 73%, 91%) had urethral diverticula, of which 4 (6%; 95% CI 2%, 14.8%) contained malignancies. Six patients (7%; 95% CI 3%, 15%) had vaginal cysts histologically identified as fibromuscular tissue, 4 (5%; 95% CI 1%, 12%) had leiomyomata, and 2 (2.5%; 95% CI 0.03%, 8.8%) had ectopic ureteroceles. Two patients had vaginal squamous cell carcinomas (2.5%; 95% CI 0.03%, 8.8%), and 1 had an infected granuloma. Masses were palpable in 42 patients (53.8%; 95% CI 42%, 64%) and in 37 patients either were encountered at surgery (n = 5) or were urethral diverticula diagnosed by voiding cystourethrogram (n = 32).

CONCLUSION

Periurethral masses were encountered in less than 4% of our patient sample. Most masses were urethral diverticula; however, the differential diagnosis included leiomyoma, vaginal cysts, and malignancy. Masses were generally either palpable or seen at imaging studies performed during evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Primary urethral tuberculosis masquerading as a urethral caruncle: a diagnostic curiosity!

Primary urethral tuberculosis associated with a caruncle is an extremely rare entity and ours is the second such case to be reported. A middle-aged woman presented with symptoms of frequency dysuria syndrome for the last 2 years. Local examination and cystoscopy revealed localized parurethral induration, tenderness and a urethral caruncle with chronic obliterative urethritis. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed a solid lesion arising from the posterior urethral wall. Excision of the caruncle and transurethral resection of the paraurethral mass lesion revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation with chronic urethritis and fibrocollagenous tissue. The literature regarding the genesis of urethral caruncle, the underlying conditions, its differential diagnosis and management has been reviewed.

[The female urethral diverticula: apropos of 21 cases]

PURPOSE

Our goal is to study the clinical, radiological and therapeutic particularity of the female urethral diverticula via a retrospective study of 21 cases.

PATIENT AND METHODS

Twenty one females, with a mean age of 37 years (range 15 to 62 years) presenting an urethral diverticula, were treated between 1988 and 2000. Clinical examination made diagnosis in all cases. Cystorethrography shown a direct image of diverticula in 100% of cases and intravenous Pyelography in only 24% of cases. The urethral diverticula was excised via a transvaginal approach in all cases.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients had favourable immediate outcome. Three patients presented an urethrovaginal fistula treated surgically in one case and by bladder drainage in one case. The last patient refused treatment and she was lost to follow-up. After a median follow-up of 54 months (range 18 to 120) only three patients have some urinary urgency that was treated by anticholinergics.

CONCLUSION

Female urethral diverticula is a rare disease, the diagnosis is easy and only surgical excision gives good results.

Vaginal repair of large cystoceles

Repair of cystoceles requires a complete understanding of the pelvic anatomy. While smaller defects are relatively straightforward, greater degrees of prolapse can be among the most challenging surgeries in pelvic floor reconstruction. This article reviews current transvaginal techniques used for repair of large cystoceles.

Endoluminal magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of urethral diverticula in women

OBJECTIVES

Accurate determination of the size and extent of urethral diverticula can be important in planning operative reconstruction and repair. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is currently the most commonly used study in the preoperative evaluation of urethral diverticula. We reviewed our experience with the use of endoluminal (endorectal or endovaginal) magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) in these patients as an adjunctive study to VCUG to evaluate whether the MRI provided anatomically important information that was not apparent on VCUG.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all patients with a clinical diagnosis of urethral diverticula undergoing MRI at a single institution was performed. Patients were evaluated with history, physical examination, cystoscopy, VCUG, and eMRI. Endoluminal MRI was retrospectively compared to VCUG with respect to size, extent, and location found at operative exploration.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven consecutive patients underwent endorectal or endovaginal coil MRI in the evaluation of suspected urethral diverticula. Twenty patients subsequently had attempted transvaginal operative repair of the diverticulum. In 2 patients, eMRI demonstrated a urethral diverticulum, whereas VCUG did not. Operative exploration in these patients revealed a urethral diverticulum. In 14 of 27 patients, the VCUG underestimated the size and complexity of the urethral diverticulum as compared to eMRI and operative exploration. In 13 of 27 patients, the size, location, and extent of the urethral diverticulum on VCUG correlated well with the eMRI and/or operative findings.

CONCLUSIONS

We have found endorectal and endovaginal coil MRI to be extremely accurate in determining the size and extent of urethral diverticula as compared to VCUG. This information can be critical when planning the approach, dissection, and reconstruction of these sometimes complex cases.