Urethral Calculi in Young-Adult Nigerian Males: A Case Series

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Urethral calculi are rare and usually encountered in males with urethral pathology.
OBJECTIVE: To present our experience managing urethral calculi in a resource limited centre and review the literature.
METHODS: We did a chart review of management of patients with urethral calculi between January and April 2009, at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare, Nigeria. We also reviewed the literature on this rare condition.
RESULTS: Four young adult male Nigerians between the ages of 17 and 27 years presented with varying degrees of urethral pain and palpable calculi in the anterior urethra. Two presented with acute retention of urine, but none had haematuria. The calculi were radio-opaque, located in the anterior urethra with no associated urethral pathology. Three were solitary and one multiple. The composition of the urethral calculi was a mixture of calcium oxalate calcium carbonate, magnesium phosphate, one has additional cystine but none had struvite or uric acid. Their sizes ranged between 1cm x1.5cm and 1.5cm x 5.5cm. External urethrotomy was the method of treatment.
CONCLUSION: Urethral calculi are rare in our setting, with no clear identifiable aetiological factors which suggests urinary schistosomiasisbeing associsted. The occurrence of urethral calculi appears to have a relationship with childhood urinary schistosomasis.

Keywords: Urethral calculi, Young adult Nigerian males, Literature review.

WAJM 2011; 30(6): 457–460