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Case report
Glomus tumour of the male urethra: an unusual diagnostic
  1. Sophie Ramsay1,
  2. Garson Chan1,
  3. W Britt Zimmerman2 and
  4. Justin Chee3
  1. 1Department of Urology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
  2. 2Department of Urology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
  3. 3Department of Urology, Epworth Freemasons, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Sophie Ramsay; sophie.ramsay{at}usherbrooke.ca

Abstract

A 56-year-old man was referred to a reconstructive urologist for evaluation of a tender nodule in the penoscrotal area. Penile Doppler ultrasound showed a non-compressible mass with internal vascularity within the corpora spongiosum, and MRI identified an enhancing, solid mass arising from the ventral aspect of the urethra. Surgical resection warranted partial excision and reconstruction of the urethra, which was achieved by a dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty through a perineal incision with penile invagination. The histopathology report concluded to an invasive, high-grade urothelial carcinoma, for which an aggressive oncological approach was considered. However, discussion with the pathology team led to the identification of a glomus tumour for which the patient did not need additional procedures. Urethral glomus tumours are extremely rare and should be included in the differential diagnosis of urethral masses. This case exemplifies the importance of teamwork in the management of uncommon cases.

  • urological surgery
  • urology

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @drjustinchee

  • Contributors SR and JC provided direct care to the patient. SR and JC planned the conception and design of the manuscript. SR collected data and drafted the manuscript. SR, GC, WBZ and JC critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.