Urethral Polyp in a 21-Year-Old Young Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Urethral polyps represent a rare cause of lower urinary tract obstruction, documented primarily in pediatrics and more specifically in boys during the first decade of life. We report the case of a 21-year-old patient with no significant past medical history, presenting with a vulvar mass showing progressive enlargement associated with dysuria and mechanical pain, evolving since the age of 10. Clinical examination revealed a 1.5 cm pedunculated, erythematous, and tender mass protruding from the urethral meatus. Cystoscopy confirmed a bleeding-upon-contact polyp implanted on the posterior wall of the meatus, adjacent to healthy bladder mucosa. Complete surgical excision with a surgical bade no 11 was performed under spinal anesthesia, followed by cauterization and urethral catheterization for 48 hours. Histopathological analysis concluded a benign fibro-epithelial polyp without atypia or signs of malignancy. The immediate and six-month postoperative outcomes were excellent, with complete resolution of symptoms. This case, exceptional due to the patient's age and long clinical history, contrasts with available large pediatric series and the few reported female pediatric cases. It underscores the necessity of considering this diagnosis even in young adult women presenting with any urethral mass and confirms the curative effectiveness of simple and complete surgical excision for this benign but potentially debilitating pathology.