[Is ultrasound imaging of the urethra an alternative to radiologic urethral imaging and urethroscopy?].

Ultrasonographic examinations have been widely accepted in urology for a variety of indications. Stimulated by reports on the usefulness of sonourethrography and the idea of reducing radiation exposure, we examined 145 male urethrae during retrograde instillation of sterile saline solution. In addition, 8 patients were examined during spontaneous micturition. We found this procedure to be painless, quick, cheap and to have nearly the same diagnostic value as conventional methods.