ABSTRACT
Introduction Over the past 10 years, the indications for urethrectomy at the time of cystectomy have undergone substantial modification. While years ago a prophylactic urethrectomy was performed in many patients with cutaneous diversions, it has become clear that only patients with invasion from transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) at the level of the prostatic urethra or bladder neck have a substantial risk of developing subsequent urethral recurrence. Since the introduction of bladder replacement procedures, the indications for prophylactic urethrectomy have become more and more restricted. The pre-or intraoperative assessment of the prostatic urethra in males and of the bladder neck in females is the most important issue determining appropriate management of the urethra in patients with bladder cancer.
