超声检查在男性创伤性尿道狭窄诊断中的价值

目的探讨超声检查对男性创伤性尿道狭窄的诊断价值。方法对21例男性创伤性尿道狭窄患者进行超声检查,14例同时联合尿道造影检查,结果与术中所见进行对比分析。结果21例超声结果与术中所见一致。14例联合检查中,造影检查有2例前尿道狭窄漏诊,2例狭窄近侧结石未发现,2例正常后尿道误诊为狭窄,2例后尿道狭窄长度不能估计;2例会阴部瘘管造影清晰显示而超声显示不佳。结论超声在狭窄定位、长度测量、瘢痕范围估测及显示继发结石等方面优于造影,造影显示瘘管清晰,必要时两者应联合应用。     

MR urethrogram versus combined retrograde urethrogram and sonourethrography in diagnosis of urethral stricture

Objectives: To compare the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) urethrogram versus combined RUG and sonourethrography (SUG) in diagnosis urethral stricture with evaluation of their impact in management choice.Material and methods: From March 2006 through February 2007; 30 male patients (mean age, 45 ± 18 years, range 15-75) with clinically suspected urethral stricture. All patients underwent RUG, SUG and MR urethrogram.Results: The final diagnosis of the 30 cases included in our study, after endoscopy and surgical management, was classified into two main groups either isolated stricture (20 cases) or associated with other pathologies (9 cases). There was one case with normal urethral caliber at endoscopy. For the anterior stricture the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of RUG was 91%, 90% and 90%, respectively and for the posterior stricture it was 89%, 91.7% and 90%, respectively. At SUG, all cases of anterior were detected with 100% accuracy while for cases of posterior stricture, the overall accuracy was 60%. MR urethrogram diagnosed all the cases of anterior and posterior stricture with exact delineation of its length except one case of normal caliber was diagnosed falsely at MR as anterior short segment urethral with 100% sensitivity, 91.7% specificity and 95% overall accuracy.Conclusion: MR urethrogram has comparable results with the combined RUG and SUG in diagnosing the anterior and posterior urethral strictures as regard the site and extension and degree of spongiofibrosis but MR is superior in diagnosis of associated pathologies with stricture.     

Comparison of radiographic and sonographic urethrography for assessing urethral strictures

The aim of this study was to compare radiourethrography (RUG) and sonourethrography (SUG) for assessment of urethral strictures and to evaluate whether RUG underestimates stricture length, as has been reported. Fifty-one men with suspected urethral strictures were evaluated by both methods performed consecutively. Stricture lengths and diameters measured by RUG were significantly greater (mean 22%, 30%) than those measured by SUG because of radiographic magnification. Both methods, however, detected a similar percentage lumen reduction and similarly graded stricture severity. Equally significant non-correlation between both methods for length measurements in the bulbar and penile urethra (p<0.001, R²=0.33 and 0.34, respectively) supported radiographic magnification. Previous inaccuracies appear to relate to RUG measurements of the central tight stricture (mean 44% of the entire length in our series), not the full stricture length. Use of sonographic contrast medium intra-urethrally improved the definition of long narrow strictures. The SUG gave information about peri-urethral tissues not provided by RUG. Once radiographic magnification was taken into account, there were no major differences in the assessment of urethral strictures by both methods. With correct measurement methods, RUG does not underestimate stricture length. For full assessment, the combination of RUG and SUG, which gives information about peri-urethral disease, is optimal in many patients.     

Rhenium-188 mercaptoacetyltriglycine-filled balloon dilation in the treatment of recurrent urethral strictures: initial experience with five patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of beta-irradiation therapy with use of a rhenium-188 mercaptoacetyltriglycine ((188)Re-MAG(3))-filled balloon for the prevention of restenosis in urethral strictures refractory to repetitive surgical or interventional procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five male patients with traumatic (n = 4) or postoperative anastomotic (n = 1) recurrent urethral strictures were included. One to four sessions of 20-30 Gy beta-irradiation at a 1-mm tissue depth with (188)Re-MAG(3)-filled balloon dilation were undertaken in each patient. RESULTS: No procedural complications or toxicities were noted. During the mean follow-up period of 16.2 months, the stricture did not recur in two patients, whereas three patients required additional interventional procedures. In two of these patients, the treatment intervals between the required sessions were significantly prolonged. For the entire group, the mean treatment interval was prolonged from 2.2 months before (188)Re-MAG(3)-filled balloon dilation to 10.7 months after therapy. CONCLUSION: (188)Re-MAG(3)-filled balloon dilation shows promise in preventing or delaying stricture recurrence in patients with recurrent urethral strictures.     

Optimisation of sonourethrography: the clamp method

Purpose

To describe the clamp method for performing retrograde sonourethrography (RSUG) and contrast-enhanced voiding sonourethrography (CE-VSUG) via the transperineal approach in male adults.

Materials and methods

Prospective study of 113 males (14-86 years) with urethral strictures confirmed by urethrography who received sonourethrography via the clamp method between 2011 and 2015. The characteristic parameters of the quantitative variables were calculated and a comparative analysis of the qualitative variables was conducted using the McNemar test.

Results

RSUG was performed successfully in all the cases (n = 113) and detected 49 cases with anterior urethral strictures; the strictures in the proximal bulbar cone in five of them (10.2%) were not visualised on retrograde urethrography (RUG) (p < 0.05). CE-VSUG was performed successfully in 97 cases and observed posterior urethral strictures in 82; the bladder neck strictures in 6 of them (7.3%) were not observed on voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) (p < 0.05). Retrograde bladder filling was achieved in approximately 6 min.

Conclusion

The clamp method enables RSUG and CE-VSUG to be performed simply, effectively and painlessly by a single operator. It also allows the evaluation of cases with urethromeatal alterations (stricture, hypospadias and meatotomy).

Key Points

? The clamp method enables RSUG to be performed simply and painlessly. ? The clamp method requires only one operator and allows assessing urethromeatal alterations. ? RSUG shows greater capacity for detecting anterior urethral strictures than RUG. ? The clamp method achieves retrograde bladder filling in approximately 6 min. ? CE-VSUG shows greater capacity for detecting strictures than VCUG.

     

Virtual cystoscopy of bladder neoplasms. Preliminary experience]

PURPOSE: We investigated the comparative sensitivity of virtual and conventional cystoscopy in patients with urinary bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve patients (8 men and 4 women; mean age: 61 years, range: 49-73) with findings of bladder cancer at conventional cystoscopy were submitted to volumetric spiral CT of the urinary bladder. Before the examination, the urinary bladder was distended with 180-200 mL of air. CT findings were then sent to an independent workstation to generate interactive intraluminal views of the bladder. The findings of virtual cystoscopy were compared with those of conventional cystoscopy in 11 patients and with the findings of transurethral resection after urethrotomy in one patient. All lesions had pathologic confirmation. RESULTS: Eighteen (90%) of 20 masses detected on conventional cystoscopy were visualized with virtual cystoscopy. The latter allowed readers to identify 13 of 13 masses (100%) > 1 cm and only 5 of 7 (71%) < 1 cm; three 4-mm masses were missed. Although only a subjective evaluation of lesion size was possible on conventional cystoscopy, there seemed to be good agreement on mass size and site with both techniques. DISCUSSION: Cystoscopy plays a key role in the diagnosis of urinary bladder carcinoma. However cystoscopy is invasive, has a limited field of view and lacks an objective scale; moreover, it is not indicated in patients with severe urethral strictures or active vesical bleeding. In our study, virtual cystoscopy depicted all the masses > 1 cm, and a lesion in a diverticulum with a small opening. Virtual cystoscopy was also very useful in a patient with urethral stricture (who could no be submitted to conventional cystoscopy) where it showed the lesion before transurethral resection after urethrotomy. The virtual technique could also be complementary to conventional cystoscopy in evaluation of bladder base and anterior bladder neck, as well as for postchemotherapy follow-up. Unfortunately virtual cystoscopy does not allow biopsy of suspicious lesions.     

Anterior urethral strictures and retrograde urethrography: An update for radiologists

Urethral strictures are a relatively common affliction of men with the anterior urethra being most frequently affected. Anterior urethral strictures (AUS) typically present with obstructive voiding symptoms and appropriate management is often based on findings at cystourethroscopy and retrograde urethrography (RUG). In particular, determining the number, length, severity and location of urethral strictures is of pivotal importance. The accurate reporting of findings at RUG is dependent on a thorough knowledge of the urethral anatomy as well as recognizing periurethral structures that may opacify during the procedure. Obtaining a diagnostic, high-quality RUG study requires adherence to proper fluoroscopic technique as well as recognizing when to adjust or modify the technique to address pitfalls that may be encountered during the procedure. AUS may be treated by a variety of procedures including urinary diversion, transurethral procedures such as urethral dilation and internal urethrotomy and open surgical repair techniques termed urethroplasty. Some authors have recommended urethroplasty as first-line treatment given the high rate of stricture recurrence with other treatment options. Buccal mucosal grafts are a mainstay of modern urethroplasty. Familiarity with the commonly performed urethroplasty procedures allows radiologists to accurately assess the post-operative urethra thus guiding the management of these patients.     

Use of Cutting Balloon in the Treatment of Urethral Stricture: A Novel Technique

The peripheral cutting balloon has been used to treat various nonvascular strictures as well as vascular stenosis. In this article, we describe for the first time the use of the cutting balloon in the treatment of patients with urethral stricture. Four patients with bulbar urethral stricture were included in the study. All strictures were successfully dilated with the cutting balloon, and patients were free of symptoms at 6-month follow-up. Cutting-balloon dilatation is a safe, easy-to-perform, and effective treatment for patients with tight urethral strictures.     

经耻骨径路治疗骨盆骨折后复杂性后尿道狭窄

目的 探讨经耻骨径路治疗骨盆骨折后复杂性后尿道狭窄的手术安全性和长期疗效.方法采用经耻骨径路治疗复杂性后尿道狭窄26例,其中男21例,女5例;年龄16～65岁,平均26岁.后尿道狭窄长度2.5～4.0 cm 23例,>4.0 cm 3例,其中尿道闭锁5例.尿道断端彻底切除瘢痕后采用端端吻合术,观察手术效果及术中术后并发症.结果 随访1～7年,平均4年.22例(85%)手术成功,排尿通畅.无耻骨炎、骨盆分离、骨盆不稳定、尿失禁等并发症.1例(4%)排尿不畅,3例(11%)失败.结论经耻骨径路治疗骨盆骨折后复杂性后尿道狭窄安全可行,切除尿道瘢痕彻底,无严重并发症,长期疗效良好,值得临床选择性使用.     

Strictures of the sigmoid colon: barium enema evaluation

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of radiologic interpretation, in the absence of clinical information, in the differentiation of benign and malignant sigmoid strictures at barium enema examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On two occasions, four independent observers retrospectively assessed examination findings in 78 patients with documented sigmoid strictures (43 benign, 35 malignant). Each stricture was graded by using a five-point scale (definitely malignant to definitely benign). RESULTS: No significant difference existed between the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the two assessments with any observer. Consensus findings indicated agreement among at least three of the four observers in 68 (87%) and 66 (85%) cases at the first and second assessments, respectively. One benign stricture was called malignant at both assessments. When consensus existed, the positive predictive value for malignant strictures was 96% at both assessments (sensitivity, 63% and 66%). Nine malignant strictures were called benign, three at both assessments. When consensus existed, the positive predictive value for benign strictures was 84% and 88% at the first and second assessments, respectively (sensitivity, 88% and 86%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The differentiation between a benign and a malignant sigmoid stricture can be made in most cases at barium enema examination. When a stricture appears malignant, the diagnosis is usually correct, but caution is advised when a stricture appears benign.     

Biliary Complications in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Imaging Findings and the Roles of Interventional Procedures

Purpose To describe the incidence, types, and findings of biliary complications in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to determine the roles of interventional procedures. Materials and methods Twenty-four biliary complications among 161 LDLT patients (24/161, 14.9%) were identified. These complications were divided into two groups according to the initial manifestation time, i.e., “early” (<60 days) or “late”. The CT and cholangiographic findings were reviewed regarding the presence of a stricture or leak and the location, and length, shape, and degree of the stricture. Both groups were categorized into three subgroups: leak, stricture, and both. The type of interventional procedures used and their roles were determined. Results Early complications were identified in 14 of the 24 patients (58%) and late complications in 11 (46%). One patient showed both early and late complications. Biliary stricture was detected in 10 patients, leak in 10, and both in 5. By cholangiography, all strictures were irregular and short (mean length 15 ± 6 mm) at the anastomotic site and complete obstruction was observed in 2 patients with late stricture. Twenty-three of the 24 patients were treated using percutaneous and/or endoscopic drainage procedures with or without balloon dilatation. Seventeen (74%) showed a good response, but reoperations were inevitable in 6 (26%). All patients except those with complete obstruction showed a favorable outcome after interventional management. Conclusion Biliary leaks and strictures are predominant complications in LDLT. Most show good responses to interventional treatment. However, complete obstruction needs additional operative management.     

Role of MDCT in evaluation of urethral lesions

Objectives

To evaluate the role of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the diagnosis of urethral lesions.

Methods

Thirteen CT urethrography examinations on 13 male patients were performed with 4-MDCT, over a 15 month duration. These patients were clinically examined and a urethral lesion was suspected. The study included recently traumatized patients and patients with suspected urethral lesions. The study was performed by retrograde urethral injection or during micturition after IV contrast injection. 3D-volume rendering (VR) images and VR-multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) sagittal images and virtual images were done.

Results

Out of the 13 patients, two patients were diagnosed having avulsed prostatic urethra.Nine patients were diagnosed having urethral strictures: two at the bulbous urethra (one of them associated with fistulous stricture), five at the membranous urethra (one of them having associated hypospadias) and two at the prostatic urethra. Two postoperative patients with hypospadias were evaluated, one with glans collection and the other with urethral stricture. One patient was diagnosed having urethral neoplasm.

Conclusion

MDCT urethrography is an accurate method in delineating small lesions, site, length, degree of strictures and extraluminal structures.     

Rectal strictures: treatment with fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation

The authors performed 25 fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation procedures in nine patients with rectal strictures. In all cases, the stricture developed after rectal surgery. Four patients underwent ileoanal anastomosis after total colectomy for various conditions; five patients underwent rectosigmoid end-to-end anastomosis after resection of a tumor or as treatment for diverticulitis. Maximal stricture dilatation was attained in 20 instances with a single 15-30-mm balloon. In five procedures, two balloons (20 or 15 mm) were inflated simultaneously ("kissing balloons" technique) to dilate the strictures. In five patients, only one dilation procedure was required for effective treatment of the strictures, with no clinical evidence of strictures after follow-up of 1.5-56 months (mean, 29.5 months). In the other four patients, multiple procedures were performed: nine in one patient, five in one patient, and three in two patients. In these patients, no recurrent symptoms developed during follow-up of 1.25-18 months (mean, 8.1 months) after the last dilation. Complicating leaks, infection, or hemorrhage did not occur after any of the procedures. Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of rectal strictures.     

MRI in patients with urethral stricture: a systematic review

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is gaining acceptance as a diagnostic tool in urethral stricture disease. Numerous publications emphasize on the advantages of MRI including its ability to determine periurethral spongiofibrosis, thus overcoming the main limitation of retrograde urethrography (RUG). It is also becoming an alternative for sonourethrography (SUG), which is a highly subjective examination. Magnetic resonance urethrography (MRU) has become an increasingly appreciated tool for diagnosing patients with urethral stricture disease. Obtained data provides radiologists and urethral reconstructive surgeons with additional information regarding anatomical relationships and periurethral tissue details, facilitating further treatment planning. Considering the great prevalence of urethral stricture disease and necessity of using accurate, and acceptable diagnostic method, this review was designed to provide radiologists and clinicians with a systematic review of the literature on the use of MRI in the urethral stricture disease.

Urethral stricture is one of the common male urological disorders with an increasing incidence. Patients may be asymptomatic or present with decreased urine flow, increased pressure required for urinating, a feeling of incomplete urination, urinating in a drop by drop manner and urinary retention. Moreover, ejaculation disorders, often underestimated by physicians, may be encountered, significantly influencing patients’ quality of life (1).Stricture might be caused by inflammatory, traumatic, ischemic, congenital or iatrogenic factors resulting in formation of scar tissue along the tract and reducing the caliber of the urethra (2). Disease is associated with high recurrence rate. Mechanisms underlying traumatic strictures include straddle injury, pelvic fracture-related urethral injury and iatrogenic injury secondary to instrumentation also in reference to worldwide increase in endoscopical transurethral treatment methods in the last decades (3).Given that the number of patients suffering from urethral stricture disease is increasing, there is a need for improvement of diagnostic methods determining the choice of the optimal treatment method. Despite numerous surgical methods for treatment of this disease, it is still associated with high recurrence rates.Process of stricture formation is usually associated with scarring within corpus spongiosum and is known as spongiofibrosis. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed significant changes within the structure of the strictured part of urethral wall in the microscopic images. In contrast to normal urethra wall, the epithelial layer at the site of a stricture is much thicker. Collagen and bundles of elastin are densely packed around the strictured urethra (4). Thus, the most effective method of treatment for patients with urethral stricture with extensive spongiofibrosis is excision of the whole stricture followed by an end-to-end anastomosis of the two healthy ends (5). Therefore, more and more radiologists and urologists require information on the presence of spongiofibrosis and periurethral pathologies for the correct choice of treatment method.     

200例陈旧性尿道狭窄与闭塞治疗方法的选择

用液电冲击波等治疗方法，治疗各种原因引起的陈旧性尿道狭窄１６０例、尿道闭塞４０例，总治愈率９２％。认为，尿道狭窄长度＜２．５ｃｍ者首选腔内技术；尿道闭塞或复杂性尿道狭窄伴有尿道轴线变异严重或合并憩室、假道和尿瘘者，选用开放手术或尿道瘢痕电切术，亦可联合使用两种方法，以提高疗效。为临床选择陈旧性尿道狭窄和闭塞治疗方法提供了依据。     

Congenital stricture of the urethra

Three patients with presumed congenital urethral strictures are presented. The strictures were all in the bulbar urethra and were demonstrated by micturating cysto-urethrography. A further child is described with a normal urethra in whom the appearances mimicked a proximal bulbar stricture.     

MR cholangiopancreatography: prospective comparison of a breath-hold 2D projection technique with diagnostic ERCP

The aim of this study was to compare prospectively a breath-hold projection magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) technique with diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Seventy-six patients with suspected strictures or choledocholithiasis were referred for MRCP and subsequent ERCP examination, which were performed within 4 h of each other. The MRCP technique was performed using fat-suppressed rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) projection images obtained in standardised planes with additional targeted projections as required by the supervising radiologist. Two radiologists (in consensus) assessed the MRCP results prospectively and independently for the presence of bile duct calculi, strictures, non-specific biliary dilatation and pancreatic duct dilatation, and recorded a single primary diagnosis. The ERCP was assessed prospectively and independently by a single endoscopist and used as a gold standard for comparison with MRCP. Diagnostic agreement was assessed by the Kappa statistic. The MRCP technique failed in two patients and ERCP in five. In the remaining 69 referrals ERCP demonstrated normal findings in 23 cases, strictures in 19 cases, choledocholithiasis in 9 cases, non-specific biliary dilatation in 14 cases and chronic pancreatitis in 4 cases. The MRCP technique correctly demonstrated 22 of 23 normal cases, 19 strictures with one false positive (sensitivity 100 %, specificity 98 %), all 9 cases of choledocholithiasis with two false positives (sensitivity 100 %, specificity 97 %), 12 of 14 cases of non-specific biliary dilatation and only 1 of 4 cases of chronic pancreatitis. There was overall good agreement for diagnosis based on a kappa value of 0.88. Breath-hold projection MRCP can provide non-invasively comparable diagnostic information to diagnostic ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis and biliary strictures and may allow more selective use of therapeutic ERCP. Received: 20 May 1998; Revision received: 26 November 1998; Accepted: 7 January 1999     

Percutaneous transvesical antegrade passage of urethral strictures

Failure to pass a urethral stricture by retrograde instrumentation is generally accepted as excluding the possibility of closed internal urethrotomy. In 2 patients with impassable strictures percutaneous transvesical antegrade passage of a guide wire through the stricture was successful, paving the way for balloon dilatation of the stricture and visual internal urethrotomy. In view of the success rate of internal urethrotomy in treating strictures, it is recommended that this radiological method of dealing with an impassable stricture from above be used to avoid open operation and to allow internal urethrotomy to proceed. A protocol for the procedure is suggested.     

Retrograde balloon catheter dilatation of urethral stenosis--experience in benign prostatic hypertrophy and postoperative urethral stricture]

Retrograde transurethral balloon dilatation of urethral stenosis was performed in five patients: four patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and one with urethral stricture following open prostatectomy. Significant resolution of symptoms of dysuria was seen in four patients throughout the follow-up period of 12 to 18 months. A balloon diameter of 25 mm was considered to be necessary for prostatic hypertrophy. The unsatisfactory result in one patient with prostatic hypertrophy was believed to be caused by incomplete dilation due to a small balloon diameter. Mild transient hematuria was seen in all cases. Only one patient with postoperative urethral stricture complained of pain during balloon inflation, while other patients with prostatic hypertrophy did not complain of any apparent pain. We conclude that this technique is a safe and effective method of treatment for prostatic hypertrophy and other urethral strictures.