title: Squamous cell carcinoma of the male urethra mimicking a paravertebral abscess.
abstract: In the context of a misleading diagnosis of paraurethral abscess, we report a case of unrecognized metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the male urethra that mimicked a picture of paravertebral abscess with accompanying massive caval vein thrombosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology of both paravertebral abscess and urethral nodule allowed the diagnosis. This report calls the attention of clinicians to think of a malignant process in case of a paravertebral abscess. Fine needle aspiration cytology once more proves a useful tool in the diagnosis of unsuspected malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Santo Hospital Civil de Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Angulo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Larrinaga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unda-Urzaiz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ereño
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Flores
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014523:Urethral Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014684:Venae Cavae