Is urethritis accompanied by seminal vesiculitis?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Urethritis is a common condition in men.
• The association between urethritis and seminal vesiculitis requires further investigation.
• Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is a valuable imaging modality for evaluating pelvic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of seminal vesiculitis in patients diagnosed with urethritis.
• To compare seminal vesicle characteristics in patients with urethritis versus healthy controls using TRUS.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-six male patients with urethritis and 34 healthy male volunteers underwent evaluation.
• Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) was used to identify causative agents of urethritis.
• Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) imaging was performed to assess seminal vesicle morphology and dimensions.

Main Results:

• NAAT identified gonococcal and/or chlamydial urethritis in most patients.
• Patients with urethritis exhibited significantly larger mean anteroposterior seminal vesicle diameters compared to controls (12.9 vs 11.0 mm).
• The incidence of seminal vesicle dilatation (30% vs 9%) and cystic changes (39% vs 12%) was significantly higher in the urethritis group.

Conclusions:

• Urethritis is frequently accompanied by seminal vesiculitis.
• The findings suggest a strong interrelationship between urethritis, seminal vesiculitis, and potentially epididymitis.
• TRUS imaging is effective in detecting seminal vesicle abnormalities associated with urethritis.