Acute urinary retention secondary to clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra

The authors report a case of primary clear cell cancer of the urethra in a woman presenting with acute urinary retention. The diagnosis was based on c ystoscopy and confirmed by histological examination of urethral biopsies. T reatment consisted of urethrocystectomy with creation of an "Indiana pouch" . The pathological stage was T3N2M0 [1]. Three months postoperatively, the patient presented with inguinal lymph node metastases. She was treated with 3 courses of chemotherapy (mitomycin and 5-fluorouracil) combined with rad iotherapy. With a follow-up of 10 months, the patient is still alive and in guinal lymph nodes have regressed. This case report emphasizes the rarity o f this histological type and describes the management of urinary retention in a woman when an underlying specific disease is suspected.