Comment on the Paper “Condom-Assisted Transurethral Resection: A New Surgical Technique for Urethral Tumor”, Surgical Science, Vol. 1, 2010, pp. 46-48

doi:10.4236/ss.2011.24042

Paper Menu >>

Journal Menu >>

Surgical Science, 2011, 2, 193-194

doi:10.4236/ss.2011.24042 Published Online June 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ss)

Comment on the Paper “Condom-Assisted

Tr ansurethral Resection: A New Surgical

Technique for Urethral Tumor”, Surgical Science,

Vol. 1, 2010, pp. 46-48*

Guven Aslan

Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medic i ne Department of Urology, Iz mir, Turkey

E-mail: [email protected]

Received December 21, 2010; revised April 11, 2011; accepted April 15, 20 1 1.

Abstract

The authors introduce a new technical modification which facilitates endoscopic resection of urethra tumors

located at navicular fossa by using a tipcut condom that covers the resectoscope and the penis. This tech-

nique can be used in the diagnosis and management of all kind male anterior urethral lesions at this location.

Keywords: Urethral Tumor, Transurethral Resection, Surgical Technique

I read with interest the article entitled “Condom-Assisted

Transurethral Resection: A New Surgical Technique for

Urethral Tumor” [1]. The authors introduce a new tech-

nical modification which facilitates endoscopic resection

of urethra tumors located at navicular fossa. The case

report will be of interest to surgeons experienced urethral

lesions in their surgical practice.

Transitional cell carcinoma usually presents in the

posterior urethra, mainly in the prostatic portion where

the epithelium is made up of transitional cells and in

continuity with the bladder epithelium [2]. Most carci-

nomas of the anterior urethra are squamous cell carci-

noma [2]. Transitional cell carcinoma within the squamous

lined navicular fossa is extremely rare. Numerous proc-

esses including foci of ectopic transitional epithelium,

metaplasia and HPV infection have been proposed, and

as yet, no evidence points to any one of these hypotheses

[3,4]. Because limited number of cases have been re-

ported and the scarcity of reports, treatment is not stan-

dard. Unlike squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior

urethra, which usually requires surgical excision or par-

tial penectomy, transitional cell carcinoma of this loca-

tion can be managed with endoscopic local resection and

fulguration thus preservation of the penis for noninvasive

lesions.

Many urologist find difficult endoscopic management

of urethral tumors, especially tumors located at fossa

navicularis. Because the location of urethral lesion placed

is very close to urethral meatus, irrigant solution is usu-

ally spilled out making visualization poor. The authors

devised a new practical surgical technique to facilitate

TUR of urothelial tumors in fossa navicularis by using a

tipcut condom that covers the resectoscope and the penis.

The method described herein by the authors is not lim-

ited to the management of tumor recurrence after urothe-

lial cancer surgery. This technique can be used in the

diagnosis and management of all kind male anterior ure-

thral lesions at this location.

I congratulate the authors for managing such a rare

disease successfully and sharing their experience with us

which could obviously be a significant contribution to

the learning of the surgical fraternity.

References

[1] K. Sato, M. Suzuki, M. Nagata, H. Nishimatsu, A. Ishi-

kawa, Y. Igawa, H. Kume and Y. Homma, “Con-

dom-Assisted Transurethral Resection: A New Surgical

Technique for Urethral Tumor”, Surgical Science, Vol. 1,

2010, pp. 46-48. doi:10.4236/ss.2010.12009

[2] R. L. Levine, “Urethral Cancer”, Cancer, Vol. 45, No. 7,

1980; pp. 1965-72.

*K. Sato, M. Suzuk i, M. Nagata, H . Nishimatsu, A. Ish ikawa, Y. Igawa

H. Kume, Y. Homma, “Condom-Assisted Transurethral Resection: A

ew Surgical Technique for Urethral Tumor”, Surgical Science, Vol. 1

2010, pp. 46-48. [3] G. S Steele, J. R. Fielding, A. Renshaw, K. R. Loughlin,

“Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Fossa Navicularis”,

194 G. ASLAN

Urology, Vol. 50, 1997, pp. 792-795

doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(97)00318-X

[4] M. J. Resnick, A.J Wein, “Transitional Cell Carcinoma of

the Fossa Navicularis in a Man with Preexisting Adeno-

carcinoma of the Prostate”, Urologia Internationalis, Vol.

76, 2006, pp. 186-188. doi:10.1159/000090887