Neoplasms of the Urethra

Urethral cancer is a rare disease which may occur at any age but is observed more often during the seventh decade. It is usually considered more common in females, but a recent study shows in the United States an annual age-adjusted incidence rate of 4.3 per million men and 1.5 per million women. The incidence is higher in African Americans. Different histologic patterns of urethral tumors are recognized. The most common type of urethral malignancy is squamous cell carcinoma which accounts for about 80 % of cases in men and 60 % of cases in women. Transitional cell carcinoma is the second most common urethral malignancy in both sexes. In males, this lesion accounts for 15 % of total cases, in females for 20 % of patients. Other primary malignant tumors of the urethra are rare. Only sporadic cases of lymphoma, melanoma, and neuroendocrine tumors have been reported in the literature