Cellular Classification
The female urethra is lined by transitional cell mucosa proximally and
stratified squamous cells distally. Therefore, transitional cell carcinoma is most common in the proximal urethra and squamous cell carcinoma predominates
in the distal urethra. Adenocarcinoma is found in both locations and arises
from metaplasia of the numerous periurethral glands.
The male urethra is lined by transitional cells in its prostatic and membranous
portion and stratified columnar epithelium to stratified squamous epithelium in
the bulbous and penile portions. The submucosa of the urethra contains
numerous glands. Therefore, urethral cancer in the male can manifest the
histological characteristics of transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell
carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma.
Except for the prostatic urethra, where transitional cell carcinoma is most
common, squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant histology of urethral
neoplasms. Since transitional cell carcinoma of the prostatic urethra is
usually associated with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and/or
transitional cell carcinoma arising in prostatic ducts, it is treated according
to the guidelines for treatment of these primaries and should be separated from
the more distal carcinomas of the urethra.
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