Value of the Perineal Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Anterior Urethral Stricture in Male Patient

Abstract

Objectives: Determine the role of perineal ultrasound in the diagnosis of anterior urethral strictures and
assessment of peristenotic fibrosis.
Material and Method: Thirty healthy adult male and thirty patients with suspected urethral stricture have
had urethral ultrasound after distension of urethra with a normal saline. The thirty patents also underwent
retrograde urethrogram (RUG).
Results: Average diameters healthy urethra were 11.6 +/- 3.1 mm at penile level, 11.2 +/- 2.7 mm at the
bulbar level, and 9.7 +/- 2.88 mm at the bulbomembranous level. The periurethral tissue thickness averaged
2.7 +/- 0.5 mm at penile level, from 3.5 +/- 0.65 mm to bulbar level and 3.8±0.6 mm at the bulbomembranous
level. Ultrasound made the diagnosis of 31 stenosis or 96.87%. On ultrasound, the length of the stenosis
was significantly longer than that seen on retrograde urethrogram with a significant difference between the
two techniques (P = 0.045). There is also a significant difference in diameter of urethral strictures between
the two techniques. The thickness of the periurethral tissue at the level urethral stenosis was more than
that measured in a healthy zone in all cases, whatever the urethral portion concerned. There was not no
correlation between periurethral tissue thickness and degree of stenosis.
Conclusion: Urethral ultrasound is a method that allows us to make the diagnosis of urethral stricture and
to assess periurethral fibrosis. It could validly replace retrograde urethrogram in diagnosing anterior urethral
stricture.