IDIOPATHIC ANTERIOR URETHRITIS IN PREPUBERTAL AND PUBERTAL BOYS - PATHOLOGY AND CLUES TO ETIOLOGY

Objectives. Records were reviewed to examine the common features of bo ys with noninfectious anterior urethritis, and to describe the underly ing pathology. Methods. Five cases of anterior urethritis with feature s typical of this syndrome are reviewed. Results. These cases demonstr ate the typical appearance and in 1 case the pathologic diagnosis of s quamous metaplasia of the bulbar urethra. Conclusions. Prepubertal ure throrrhagia is associated with squamous metaplasia of the urethra. The tendency to stricture formation may precede instrumentation of the ur inary tract. (C) 1998, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.