Congenital urethral polyps in children: report of 18 patients and review of literature.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the presentation, diagnosis and management of congenital urethral polyps (CUP) in children and to report the results of the endoscopic resection of polyp with long-term follow-up.


METHODS
Between April 1995 to March 2010, 18 children (14 boys, 4 girls) with CUP were treated. The most common presentation was urinary outflow obstruction/retention, hematuria or protruding polyp from the urethra meatus in girls. Six patients presented with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). All children (except one) underwent a transurethral resection of the CUP.


RESULTS
Following the endoscopic resection of the polyps, there was no polyp recurrence, and all patients became symptom-free. The children exhibited no reflux, urinary retention, hematuria or urinary tract infection (UTI) following endoscopic management. Abnormal uroflowmetry patterns returned to normal following the resection of the polyp for one year after the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Urethral polyps must be considered in every child with history of triad of recurrent intermittent urinary retention, hematuria and lower urinary tract symptoms. The cure can be achieved in all cases by an endoscopic approach. This type of tumor is always benign and very rarely recurs, unless the pedicle stalk is not resected. The endoscopic management of reflux is unnecessary in this group of patients due to their natural history of secondary reflux.
Pediatric Urology Research Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (IRI).
Aram
A
Akbarzadeh
Pediatric Urology Research Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (IRI).
Reza
R
Khorramirouz
Pediatric Urology Research Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (IRI). Electronic address: kajbafzd@sina.tums.ac.ir.
Abdol-Mohammad
AM
Kajbafzadeh
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011127:Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014523:Urethral Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000209:etiology
Congenital; Hematuria; Polyps; Urethra; Urinary retention