Primary male urethral squamous cell carcinoma presenting with a genital abscess

Introduction Primary urethral cancer is a rare disease accounting for <1% of all urological cancer cases. We encountered a patient with urethral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed during treatment of a genital abscess. Case presentation A 69-year-old male was referred to our hospital for recurrent urethritis and swelling of the scrotum. The genital skin was atrophic with a purulent discharge. A diagnosis of epididymitis-induced genital abscess was made, and conservative treatment was administered. However, local infection recurred and the infected tissue was resected 4 months after the first examination. The pathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. Subsequently, radical surgery was performed, but the patient died 17 months postoperatively. Conclusion Four patients with primary urethral squamous cell carcinoma presenting as genital abscess have been reported. Careful examination is necessary while considering a malignant tumor as an underlying disease.