Understanding primary melanoma of urethra: A review

The authors aimed to analyze all published case reports of primary melanoma of the urethra to understand the outcome of this disease better.

Mucosal melanoma is a rare cancer that occurs in particular tissues in the body (mucosal), like those that line the inside of the nose, the mouth, the vagina and the urethra. Appearance of primary melanoma of the urethra is extremely rare. The urethra is the tube that leads from the bladder and transports urine to the outside the body. To date, the information available on the course and outcome of urethral melanoma seems to be sparse. 

Based on online scientific databases, reports on 150 cases of primary urethral melanoma were reviewed by the authors. In general, women were diagnosed 3 times more than men. The average age of patients was 64.7 years.

The primary treatment was surgical removal of tumor or urethrectomy (surgical removal of all parts of urethra). Of all 150 patients, 36% underwent adjuvant (additional) therapy after surgery including chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy (treatment that uses body’s natural immune system to fight cancer). Return of cancer occurred in 71% of patients and within 12.5 months of primary treatment on an average. Reappearance of cancer was mainly confined to the original location (55%) with distant metastasis (lungs, bone and brain) reported in 28% of cases. Relapse of the cancer was treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy.

The authors concluded that urethral melanoma had a high rate of relapse even after surgery and adjuvant treatment.