Objectives: To determine if well-differentiated colonic-type adenocarcinoma of the urachus behaves in a benign fashion, and thus might be treated by segmental rather than radical cystectomy.
Methods: A retrospective review of the literature since 1863 with one added case review is presented here. Only cases with photomicrograph confirmation were accepted.
Results: Sixteen previously reported patients with well differentiated colonic-type adenocarcinoma of the urachus were treated by partial cystectomy. None were treated by radical cystectomy. Most (88%) of these patients were cured, whereas all patients (100%) treated in the last 45 years were cured.
Conclusions: These data support a more limited approach to the surgical excision of these benign-appearing tumors. The influence of this histologic type on the prognosis of patients with urachal tumors has not been previously reported.