Diagnosis of male posterior urethral stricture: comparison of 64-MDCT urethrography vs. standard urethrography.

BACKGROUND

There are no reports regarding voiding/retrograde urethrography with 64-row multidetector CT (64-MDCT).To compare the clinical relevance of conventional voiding/retrograde urethrography and 64-MDCT urethrography for the evaluation of male posterior urethral stricture.

METHODS

From January to October 2009, 21 men were referred to our institution for the management of posterior urethral stricture. The patients were evaluated with conventional voiding and retrograde urethrography and 64-MDCT urethrography. The patients were examined by open operative intervention which was required in all patients. The radiologic data were compared using the operative findings.

RESULTS

64 MDCT urethrography provided extra clinical data in ten patients. It was superior to conventional urethrography for judging the urethral stricture length in three patients, characterizing the site of urethra-rectal fistula in four patients, and accurately delineating the proximal urethra in six patients.

CONCLUSIONS

64-MDCT urethrography is a promising tool as an alternative to traditional radiographic methods for defining male urethral strictures. It has the advantage of examining patients only in one position, without distortion, and by generating three-dimensional images; it can accurately measure the stricture length, aid in the diagnosis of some associated pathological conditions, such as urethrorectal fistula, and does not expose the physician to radiation.