Female urethral adenocarcinoma arising from urethritis glandularis.
BACKGROUND
Female urethral adenocarcinoma is extremely rare and more than one tissue of origin has been suggested other than the Skene's gland. Immunohistochemistry with cytokeratins (CK) 7 and 20 is used to define the origin of the tumor.


METHODS
A 72-year-old woman presented with a 2-cm polypoid tumor at the external urethral meatus and bleeding. Wide local excision and bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy were performed. Postoperative convalescence was uneventful. It was a poorly differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma without direct urothelial involvement. There were focal areas of intestinal metaplasia. The tumor cells were positive for CK 7 and 20 and negative for prostate-specific antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
This case provides supportive evidence that mucinous urethral adenocarcinoma may arise from malignant transformation of urethritis glandularis.
Chan
Y M
YM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ka-Leung Cheng
D
D
Nga-Yin Cheung
A
A
Yuen-Sheung Ngan
H
H
Wong
L C
LC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D014523:Urethral Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014526:Urethritis / Q000150:complications*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C507499:KRT20 protein, human; C507497:KRT7 protein, human; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins