A urethrocele is the prolapse of the female urethra into the vagina. Weakening of the tissues that hold the urethra in place may cause it to protrude into the vagina. Urethroceles often occur with cystoceles (involving the urinary bladder as well as the urethra). In this case, the term used is cystourethrocele. Signs and symptoms
There are often no symptoms associated with a urethrocele. When present, symptoms include stress incontinence, increased urinary frequency, and urinary retention (difficulty in emptying the bladder). Pain during sexual intercourse may also occur. Complications
Where a urethrocele causes difficulty in urinating, this can lead to cystitis. Cause
Urethroceles can often result as a result of damage to the supporting structures of the pelvic floor. Urethroceles can form after treatment for gynecological cancers. Urethroceles are often caused by childbirth, the movement of the baby through the vagina causing damage to the surrounding tissues. When they occur in women who have never had children, they may be the result of a congenital weakness in the tissues of the pelvic floor. Diagnosis
Treatment
A urethrocele can be treated surgically. See also
Rectocele
Urethropexy
Urethral bulking injections

References


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Costello syndrome is caused by mutations in HRAS. Mutations that cause Noonan syndrome have been found in PTPN11 and SOS1.The relative severity of CFC when compared to Noonan syndrome may reflect the position in the biochemical pathway occupied by the affected genes. Shp2, the protein product of the PTPN11 gene, appears to regulate the MAP kinase pathway at or above the level of SOS1. SOS1 in turn regulates the activities of RAS, RAF, MEK, ERK, and p90RSK. SOS1 has been demonstrated to be a target of negative feedback by ERK and p90RSK.Thus, any activating mutation downstream of SOS1 may be subject to less regulation that might mitigate the consequence of such mutations, giving rise to the phenotypic differences seen between these syndromes. Diagnosis
Management
References
External links

CFC Syndrome at Genetics Home Reference
GeneReview/UW/NIH entry on CFC