Role of Magnetic Resonance Urethrography in Evaluation of Urethral Strictures in Comparison to Retrograde Urethrography with Urethroscopy as Gold Standard

  • Monika Gangapatnam et al.
Keywords: Urethral stricture, Magnetic resonance urethrography, retrograde urethrography

Abstract

Background: Urethral strictures are a significant urological problem requiring precise diagnostic imaging for effective management. Conventional retrograde urethrography (RUG) is commonly used but has limitations including invasiveness, radiation exposure, and variability in results. MR urethrography offers a non-invasive alternative, potentially providing superior diagnostic accuracy and detailed tissue characterization.

Aim: To compare the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance urethrography and retrograde urethrography in assessing urethral strictures, using urethroscopy correlation.

Materials and methods: In a study conducted over 18 months at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College, Puducherry, urethral strictures were evaluated using retrograde urethrography and magnetic resonance urethrography in 61 patients, and these findings were correlated with urethroscopic findings. Strictures were categorized by location and length using both MR urethrography and RUG. The sensitivity, specificity, and correlation of stricture length measurements between MR urethrography and urethroscopy were analyzed.

Results: MR urethrography demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.50% and a specificity of 100% in detecting urethral strictures. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.985) was observed between the stricture lengths measured by MR urethrography and those measured during urethroscopy. In contrast, RUG showed a sensitivity of 70.83% and a specificity of 67.57%, with noted limitations including invasiveness and radiation exposure.

Conclusion: MR urethrography is a highly accurate and reliable diagnostic tool for urethral strictures, providing detailed anatomical and pathological information without radiation exposure. Despite higher costs and reliance on operator skill, MR urethrography is a superior alternative to RUG, particularly for comprehensive preoperative assessments.

Author Biography

Monika Gangapatnam et al.

1Dr. Monika Gangapatnam, 2Dr. B. Pratap Kumar, 3Dr. P. R. Shivaji, 4Dr. Elamparidhi. P, 5Dr. Umamageswari,
1 3rd Year Postgraduate, Department of Radio Diagnosis, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry
2 Professor, Department of Radio Diagnosis, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry
3 Assistatn Professor, Department of Urology, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry
4 Associate Professor, Department of Radio Diagnosis, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry
5 Professor and Head, Department of Radio Diagnosis, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry

Published
2024-02-04
Issue
Volume 2024
Section
Regular Issue

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