title: Female Urethral Diverticulum: Presentation, Diagnosis, and Predictors of Outcomes After Surgery.
abstract: To report on clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes after treatment of female urethral diverticulum (UD).
  
  
  
  Using a record linkage system, women with a new diagnosis of UD at Mayo Clinic from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2011, were identified. The presenting symptoms, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and management of women presenting with UD were recorded. Outcomes after surgery were assessed using survival analysis. All statistical analyses were 2-sided and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Statistical analysis was done using SAS version 9.2 and JMP version 9.0 (SAS Institute Inc.).
  
  
  
  A total of 164 cases were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 46 years (range, 21-83). The most common presenting symptom was recurrent urinary tract infection (98, 59.8%), followed by urinary incontinence (81, 49.4%), dysuria (62, 37.8%), dyspareunia (37, 22.6%), and hematuria (15, 9.1%). Examination revealed vaginal mass in 55 (33.5%) of the women. A significant trend was noted toward an increase in use of both magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (P < 0.001) along with a progressive decrease in use of urethrogram (P < 0.001) for diagnosis of UD over the years. Among 114 women who underwent surgical treatment for UD, 14(12.3%) women presented with recurrent UD and the 5-year recurrence rate after surgery for UD was 23.4% (95% confidence interval, 13.9-37.0) and a reoperation rate of 17.0% (95% confidence interval, 8.8-30.2) at 5 years.
  
  
  
  Female UD is a rare and unique condition. Clinical presentation is usually nonspecific, and magnetic resonance imaging is commonly used for confirming the diagnosis. Recurrence is not uncommon, and repeat surgical intervention might be needed.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; †Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH; ‡Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan State University, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI; and §Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sherif A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: El-Nashar
authors.forename: Ruchira
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Shunaha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim-Fine
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Occhino
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gebhart
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Klingele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology; D053159:Dysuria / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult