Evaluation of the Management of Urachal Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience over 13 Years

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Urachal carcinoma is characterized by high malignancy, poor prognosis, and late stage of diagnosis. There is a lack of unanimous clinical treatment guidelines. We summarize the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of urachal carcinoma from our center, hoping to provide a reference for diagnosis and treatment. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 patients with urachal carcinoma who were treated at our center from January 2010 to August 2022, and all patients were followed up. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The average survival time was 67.1 ± 9.1 (ranging from 49.3 to 84.9) months. The average relapse-free survival was 48.8 ± 9.9 (ranging from 29.5 to 68.2) months. Six patients received adjuvant therapy, mainly chemotherapy. Five patients died during follow-up. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Early physical examination may be helpful for early detection of urachal carcinoma. Surgical treatment is still preferred for localized urachal carcinoma. Lymph node dissection may facilitate accurate staging, and positive margin usually results in a worse prognosis. Adjuvant therapy, mainly chemotherapy, may help improve the prognosis. The application of radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy still needs further exploration.