A rare case of urethral caruncle in a 4-year-old girl

Abstract

A urethral caruncle is a benign formation that usually originates from the posterior part of the urethra. Urethral caruncles are the most common benign tumors of the female urethra. Most of them occur in postmenopausal women, and they are rarely found in childhood. In general, only a little more than a dozen pediatric cases have been published in the literature.

Aim - to describe a rare case of urethral caruncle in order to improve diagnostic and treatment methods.

Clinical case. The experience of treating a 4-year-old girl with a diagnosed urethral caruncle is described. The disease can cause bleeding, swelling and changes in the external genitourinary organs, but usually does not lead to serious urinary disorders. Conservative treatment did not bring improvement, so a decision was made to surgically remove the lesion. During the operation, the neoplasm was excised with the imposition of adaptive sutures and further referral for histopathological examination. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of urethral caruncle without signs of malignant changes. This case emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and the correct approach to the treatment of urethral caruncle, especially in children. Surgical removal is the most effective treatment method when conservative therapy does not give results. For a more accurate diagnosis, it is important to conduct differential diagnosis with other diseases, such as urethral prolapse. Since cases of caruncle in children are rare, further research is necessary to better understand the etiology of the disease and improve diagnostic and treatment methods.

The study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from the child's parents.

There is no conflict of interest.