Introduction: We encountered a case of urinary retention caused by a urethral caruncle.
Case presentation: An 86-year-old woman presented to our hospital with urinary retention. When the urinary bladder catheter was placed, a smooth, well-defined mass 20 mm in diameter was detected on the posterior wall of the external urethral meatus. The patient was diagnosed with urinary retention due to a urethral caruncle, and the mass was resected. The mass was pathologically compatible with a urethral caruncle. The patient could urinate postoperatively. Ultrasound test after surgery showed residual urine volume was 100 mL.
Conclusion: Inspecting the urethral meatus is vital in the clinical examination of older women with voiding symptoms. A urethral caruncle is a rare cause of urinary retention. However, large urethral caruncles are at risk of causing urinary retention suggesting that resecting the urethral caruncles at an appropriate time is desirable.
Keywords: inspection of urethral meatus; urethral carcinoma; urethral caruncle; urinary retention; women.
© 2024 The Author(s). IJU Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Urological Association.