Male urethral duplication: a two-case report and literature review

Abstract

Objective To summarize the clinical features and treatment of male urethral duplication. Methods The clinical data of 2 cases treated in June 2011 and April 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The first case was a 5-year-old boy presented with passages of urine from two orifices in the penis. The second case was a 15-year-old boy presented with dorsal chordee and a sinus on the dorsum of the penis. The patient had a small amount of watery discharge occasionally dripping out of the opening for 10 years. The 2 patients underwent retrograde urethrography, which revealed a complete duplicated urethra with the channel arising from the proximal prostatic urethra (class ⅡA2 according to the classification of Effman). The 2 patients underwent excision of the accessory urethra under general anesthesia. Results The pathology reports of the 2 cases were hyperplasia of squamous epithelium and urothelial mucosa. Pathological diagnosis was urethral duplication. The first case was followed up for 1 year with a satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcome. The second case was followed up for 6 months and no watery discharge noticed from the residual dorsal chordee. Conclusions Urethral duplication is a rare congenital anomality affecting mainly boys. Clinical presentation varies depending on the different anatomical patterns of the urethral anatomy. Surgical management must be evaluated for each different anatomical variation. Key words: Urethral duplication; Urogenital abnormalities; Male; Surgical procedures, operative