Journal of
Gynecology and Women’s Health
ISSN 2474-7602
Mini Review
J Gynecol Women’s Health
Volume 10 Issue 2 - June 2018
DOI: 10.19080/JGWH.2018.10.555785
Copyright © All rights are reserved by Balint Farkas
Management of Female Urethral Diverticulum
Christian Goepel, Miklos Szakacs and Balint Farkas*
Vivantes Humboldt Clinic, Pelvic Floor and Incontinence Centre, Germany
Submission: June 01, 2018; Published: June 26, 2018
*
Corresponding author: Balint Farkas, MD, Med Habil Vivantes Humboldt Clinic, Pelvic Floor and Incontinence Centre, Am Nordgraben 2, 13509,
; Fax: +49-030-130-12-1874; Email:
Berlin, Germany, Tel:
Abstract
Introduction: female urethral diverticulum is an uncommon pathologic condition, with symptoms ranging from pain, dyspareunia to
variable urinary symptoms. Our aim was the summarize the diagnosis and the treatment options of urethral diverticulum.
Methods: a systematic review was carried out utilizing the publicly available medical databases, by using the keywords listed below.
Results: medical history and physical examination augmented by a physical examination and augmented by voiding cystourethrography,
positive pressure urethrography, endovaginal sonography, or magnetic resonance imaging remains the cornerstone of the diagnosis. In
symptomatic patients surgical solution is required, including endovaginal diverticulectomy, or marsupialization which are the best choice for
treatment.
Conclusion: female UD has patients are usually candidates for operative treatment, although the currently available operative approaches
have a relative high recurrence rate.
Keywords: Child Health Support Project; PASME; District of Dahra; knew family planning; Injectable methods; income-generating activity
Abbreviations: UD: Urethral Diverticulum; SUI: Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI); CT: Computer Tomography; MRI: Magnetic Resonance
Imaging
Introduction
Urethral diverticulum (UD) is a rare and unique condition,
defined as a pocket or pouch forms alongside the female
urethra [1], with an overall annual incidence of 0.02% (17.9
per 1.000.000) [2]. It is considered to be more common among
African American women compared to Caucasians [3,4]. Two
types of them are known, the congenital and the acquired form.
While the congenital type is thought to be originate from the
Gartner’s duct, which is a vestigial remnant of the mesonephric
duct (Wolffian duct) [5], the acquired forms could be iatrogenic,
traumatic or inflammatory manifestations, leading to outflow
obstruction of the paraurethral glands (Skene’s gland) content
[6]. The symptoms of the condition ranges from asymptomatic
forms through the classic triad of postmicturition dribble,
dyspareunia and dysuria, but might also include frequency,
urgency, hematuria recurrent cystitis and urinary incontinence
[5,7]. Our aim was to summarize the diagnosis and the therapy
options of this rare condition.
J Gynecol Women’s Health 10(2): JGWH.MS.ID.555785 (2018)
Results and Discussion
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of UD is based on taking an extensive medical
history focusing on the condition related specific symptoms. It
is followed by a thorough physical examination, during which a
palpable vaginal mass can be revealed, accompanied by coexisting
stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in about 50% of the cases [2].
The diagnostic modalities include voiding cystourethrography,
positive pressure urethrography, urethroscopy, endovaginal
sonography, transrectal sonography, postvoid radiograph,
computer tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) [2]. Imaging techniques are crucial in the
diagnosis making, among them MRI is the most commonly
carried out examination. On the saggital T2-weighted images in
patients with UD a low-signal density mass, with hemorrhage
or inflammatory content, or cell debris can be seen. The cyst
usually has peripheral rim enhancement and subtle irregularity
001
Journal of Gynecology and Women’s Health
suspicious to malignancy, and results the antrolateral dislocation
of the urethra [8]. With endovaginal sonography lateral or
horseshoe-shaped diverticulum can be visualized (Figure 1).
Figure 1: endovaginal ultrasound image of a urethra communicating periurethral diverticulum with a diameter of 3cm.
Treatment
Asymptomatic patients can be conservatively treated and
followed up. Symptomatic patients should be candidates of
surgical treatment. The most common surgical intervention
is transvaginal diverticulectomy (83%), followed by
marsupialization of the distal diverticulum (14.9%-Figure 2),
or rarely transabdominal diverticulectomy (1.8%) [2]. In cases,
when due to extensive dissection there is the lack of periurethral
fibromuscular tissue provide a cover layer of the excision a
Martius fat pad flap can be utilized in urethral reconstruction.
Although there is limited available data in the current literature
about the efficacy of the surgical modalities, previous studies
demonstrated 9.64% recurrence rate in 5 years period, and a
repeat surgery rate of 8.8 %, resulting a 23.4% overall cumulative
recurrence rate of UD [2].
Figure 2: Intraoperative image of a dissected UD after marsupialization.
002
How to cite this article: Goepel C, Szakacs M and Farkas B. Management of Female Urethral Diverticulum. J Gynecol Women’s Health. 2018: 10(2):
555785. DOI: 10.19080/JGWH.2018.10.555785
Journal of Gynecology and Women’s Health
Conclusion
Female UD is rare condition with variable symptoms. Imaging
techiques are essential in the augmentation of the physical
findings in the diagnosis making. In the symptomatic cases
surgical interventions is needed with relatively high recurrence
rate.
Acknowledgement
We would like to express our gratitude to the co-workers, the
medical staff and nurses of the Vivantes Humboldt Clinic Pelvic
floor and Incontinence Center.
References
1. Riyach O, Ahsaini A, Tazi MF, Mellas S, Stuurman-Wieringa R, et al.
(2014) Female urethral diverticulum: cases report and literature. Ann
Surg Innov Res 8(1): 1.
This work is licensed under Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 License
DOI: 10.19080/JGWH.2018.10.555785
2. El-Nashar SA, Bacon MM, Kim-Fine S, Weaver AL, Gebhart JB, et al.
(2014) Incidence of female urethral diverticulum: a population-based
analysis and literature review. Int Urogynecol J 25(1): 73-79.
3. Menville JG, Mitchell JD (1944) Diverticulum of the female urethra. J
Urol 51:411-423.
4. Davis BL, Robinson DG (1970) Diverticula of the female urethra: assay
of 120 cases. J Urol 104(6): 850-853.
5. Leach GE, Bavendam TG (1987) Female urethral diverticula. Urology
30(5): 407-415.
6. Routh A (1890) Urethral divert iculum. Br Med J 8: 360-365.
7. Stewart M, Bretland PM, Stidolph NE (1981) Urethral diverticula in the
adult female. Br J Urol 53(4): 353-359.
8. Cameron AP (2016) Urethral diverticulum in the female: a metaanalysis of modern series. Minerva Ginecol 68(2): 186-210.
Your next submission with Juniper Publishers
will reach you the below assets
• Quality Editorial service
• Swift Peer Review
• Reprints availability
• E-prints Service
• Manuscript Podcast for convenient understanding
• Global attainment for your research
• Manuscript accessibility in different formats
( Pdf, E-pub, Full Text, Audio)
• Unceasing customer service
Track the below URL for one-step submission
https://juniperpublishers.com/online-submission.php
003
How to cite this article: Goepel C, Szakacs M and Farkas B. Management of Female Urethral Diverticulum. J Gynecol Women’s Health. 2018: 10(2):
555785. DOI: 10.19080/JGWH.2018.10.555785