Korean J Urol.  2007 Aug;48(8):881-884. 10.4111/kju.2007.48.8.881.

Congenital Prepubic Sinus: A Variant of Urethral Duplication

• Kim HY
• Shin OR
• Jang ED
• Yoon BI
• Chung MS
• Chung YS
• Han CH

• KMID: 2061286
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2007.48.8.881

Abstract

Congenital prepubic sinus(CPS) is an extremely rare congenital anomaly of the external genitalia of uncertain etiology. Herein, a case of CPS, where immunohistochemical staining was performed to elucidate the etiology of the sinus, is reported. The results of the immunohistochemical study demonstrated the lining epithelium was transitional proximally and squamous distally. These findings suggest that CPS is a variant form of dorsal urethral duplication.

Keyword

Congenital; Urethra; Duplication; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Epithelium
Genitalia
Immunohistochemistry
Urethra

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Prepubic sinus in a 3-year-old boy: (A) sinus opening over the prepubic area using a probe. (B) The sinus tract goes just below the pubis, toward the prostatic urethra.

• 

  Fig. 2 Histology and immunohistochemical studies of the excised sinus tract: (A) Lining epithelium in the proximal portion is more like transitional cells (H&E, ×100). (B) Lining epithelium in the distal portion is more like squamous cells (H&E, ×100). (C) Epithelial cells of the proximal portion are strongly positive for cytokeratin 7 (×100). (D) Epithelial cells of the distal portion are strongly positive for cytokeratin 903 (×100).

Reference

1. Campbell J, Beasley S, McMullin N, Hutson JM. Congenital prepubic sinus: possible variant of dorsal urethral duplication (Stephens type 2). J Urol. 1987. 137:505–506.

2. Daher P, Diab N, Moussa C, Korkmaz G. Congenital prepubic sinus. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 1994. 4:119–121.

3. Ergun O, Sayan A, Arikan A. Congenital prepubic sinus: possible variant of dorsal urethral duplication. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 1998. 8:380–381.

4. Green JS, Madden NP. Congenital prepubic sinus: a form of dorsal duplication? Br J Urol. 1997. 80:964.

5. Lawson A, Corkery JJ. Prepubic sinus: an unusual urachal remnant. Br J Surg. 1992. 79:573.

6. Park WH, Choi SO, Park KK, Kwon KY. Prepubic dermoid sinus: possible variant of dorsal urethral duplication (Stephens type 3). J Pediatr Surg. 1993. 28:1610–1611.

7. Huang CC, Wu WH, Chai CY, Wu TC, Chuang JH. Congenital prepubic sinus: a variant of dorsal urethral duplication suggested by immunohistochemical analysis. J Urol. 2001. 166:1876–1879.

8. Chao MH, Chuang CJ, Chen KC, Chu CC, Chu JM. Unusual epithelium in a subpubic sinus. Pediatr Surg Int. 2002. 18:494–495.

9. Stephens FD. Abnormal embryology-cloacal dysgenesis. Congenital malformations of the urinary tract. 1983. New York: Praeger Scientific;22.

10. Bartek J, Vojtesek B, Staskova Z, Bartkova J, Kerekes Z, Rejthar A, et al. A series of 14 new monoclonal antibodies to keratins: characterization and value in diagnostic histopathology. J Pathol. 1991. 164:215–224.