title: Anterior urethral valves in children: a possible association between anterior urethral valves and Cowper's duct cyst.
abstract: To elucidate the pathophysiology of congenital obstruction of the anterior urethra and to investigate the association between anterior urethral valves and syringocele. Three boys with congenital obstruction of the anterior urethra diagnosed at our department between 1997 and 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. All three boys had congenital obstruction in the bulbar urethra. The presenting symptoms and age of each patient were varied. Whereas continuity between Cowper's duct and the diverticulum was not demonstrated radiographically in all of the boys, it was speculated endoscopically in all. Our series has suggested a possible association between anterior urethral valves (diverticulum) and syringocele. These congenital anomalies of the anterior urethra should be considered in the differential diagnosis of obstructive lesions of the urinary tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. urokajiwara@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Tsuguru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usui
mesh_terms: D002030:Bulbourethral Glands; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000151:congenital* / Q000209:etiology