The role of gel-infused translabial ultrasound as a new modality in evaluation of female urethral stricture

• Published in: Central European journal of urology Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 152 - 156
• Main Authors: Mahmoudnejad, Nastaran, Abrishami, Alireza, Sharifiaghdas, Farzaneh, Borabadi, Ramin, Dadpour, Mehdi, Nayebzade, Amirhossein, Khazaei, Mehdi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Warsaw Polish Urological Association 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Bladder; Cross-sectional studies; Females; Iatrogenesis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Statistical analysis; Ultrasonic imaging; Urogenital system
• ISSN: 2080-4806; 2080-4873
• DOI: 10.5173/ceju.2023.168

Trans-labial real-time ultrasonography was performed following the insertion of 20 ml steady stream viscous jelly into the urethral meatus to assess the length of the urethra and exact location and length of the probable narrowing, as well as the presence of peri-urethral fibrosis (PUF). According to the low prevalence of urethral stricture in women, there is no widely accepted consensus on the definition of FUS and its diagnostic criteria in the literature. In a systematic review of 40 studies [3], uroflowmetry, measurement of post-void residual urine (PVR), cysto-urethroscopy, voiding cysto-urethrogram (VCUG), urodynamics, video urodynamics, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were utilized to diagnose FUS. (Figure 1, 2) Urethral stricture in cystoscopic evaluation was defined by failure to pass a 14-French cystoscope sheath through any part of the urethra. Since the exact border of the different parts of the female urethra could not be addressed accurately in cystourethroscopy, the location of the urethral stricture was categorized as 1/3 distal (pure distal urethral or meatal stricture) and any other parts of the urethra including the combined or pan urethral strictures.