Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) may occur at any site in the body. SFTs can only be conclusively diagnosed based on histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumor. The presence of SFTs in the abdomen and pelvis is extremely rare. To our knowledge no cases of urethral solitary fibrous tumor in the literature have been reported so far. We present a case of a solitary fibrous tumor arising from the urethra in a twenty-three-year-old female presenting with vaginal mass.
A 23-year-old sexually active female with no significant medical or surgical history initially presented to colorectal surgery for evaluation of a potential perianal mass. The patient reports having limited medical care and no recent gynecological visits. Three years prior to presentation, the patient first noticed a small growth on her perineum. Over time this growth had increased in size, but it had not interfered with any of her activities. She was still able to have sex and urinate without difficulty. The patient had no reported history of sexually transmitted infections. She denied significant pain, discharge, or bleeding from this mass.
During the initial physical examination by the colorectal surgeon it was determined that this lesion was not arising from the perianal region but was in fact of periurethral or anterior vaginal wall origin (Figure
The patient was scheduled for an examination under anesthesia, cystoscopy, and planned vaginal excision of the mass from the posterior urethral edge. Further imaging with ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI was deferred pending final pathologic findings.
At the time of a surgery, cystourethroscopy showed no evidence of urethral involvement with the mass. The bladder neck and bladder itself were noted to be unremarkable with no evidence of tumor, stones, or diverticulum. After completion of cystourethroscopy, a foley catheter was placed, and the mass was placed on traction. The mass was noted to have a broad base spanning from the 4 o’clock to 8 o’clock position encompassing the anterior vagina and posterior lip of the urethra (Figure
A frozen section was performed intraoperatively. The pathologist noted benign cytological features with no obvious source. The cut margin appeared free of any involvement. At the end of the case, the patient was transferred to the recovery room in stable condition with foley catheter and vaginal packing in place. Both the foley and vaginal packing were removed prior to the patient being discharged home.
That patient presented for a two-week postoperative appointment with urologist with no acute complaints. She was recovering well from her procedure. At her follow-up appointment final pathology results were as follows: The mass measured 5.6 cm in maximal dimension. The mass was polypoid and pedunculated with a smooth and glistening external surface. A section of skin was recognizable. The cut section was homogenous with a tan/white color. The microscopic sections revealed a well circumscribed, unencapsulated mesenchymal neoplasm composed of bland spindle cells with elongated nuclei and indistinct cytoplasm. The cells were arranged randomly with hyper- and hypocellular areas (patternless pattern), in a collagenized matrix with variably prominent, often staghorn-shaped blood vessels (Figure
Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells were positive for CD34, bcl2, and CD99 (focally) and negative for S-100, desmin, and smooth muscle actin. These findings are consistent with a solitary fibrous tumor of the urethra.
Periurethral masses are rare, occurring in only 3-4% of all patients [
Solitary fibrous tumors were first described in 1931. These tumors are of fibroblastic or myofibroblastic origin [
Extrapleural SFTs are observed in middle aged adults, typically between 20 and 70 years of age, with both sexes being affected equally [
SFTs can only be conclusively diagnosed based on histopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumor. SFTs are classically described as having a “patternless pattern.” Microscopic examination shows spindle cells dispersed among dense collagen fibers in a storiform arrangement [
Most of these tumors are asymptomatic unless they grow to cause compressive or obstructive symptoms. In our case, the patient was asymptomatic but the size of the tumor grew to be bothersome to her daily activities. Rarely, these tumors can be associated with Doege-Potter syndrome. This is a syndrome in which the tumor is associated with hypoglycemia, which occurs with less than 5% of all SFTs [
SFTs are reported to be malignant in 10–15% of cases [
Surgical removal of a periurethral or urethral mass can result in surgical complications. One of the most concerning complications results from scarring of the urethra. This can cause a urethral stricture resulting in bladder outlet obstruction. Bladder outlet obstruction occurs in 2–29% of all women [
A PubMed search did not yield any reports of urethral solitary fibrous tumor in the literature. There have been several case reports of SFTs arising in other areas of the urogenital tract and female genital tract including the kidney, bladder, vulva, and vagina. Although uncommon, solitary fibrous tumors should be in the differential diagnosis for any soft tissue mass arising from the urogenital tract.
The authors did not report any potential conflict of interests.