CT virtual cystourethroscopy for complex urethral strictures: an investigative, descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Complex urethral strictures pose diagnostic challenges.
• Conventional cystourethroscopy has limitations in visualizing intricate urethral pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic value of CT virtual cystourethroscopy (VCS) against conventional cystourethroscopy (CC).
• To evaluate the efficacy of VCS in diagnosing complex urethral strictures.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 33 patients with suspected complex urethral strictures.
• Comparison of examination time and diagnostic accuracy between VCS and CC using intraoperative findings.

Main Results:

• VCS demonstrated a statistically significant shorter examination duration for strictures with fistulas compared to CC.
• Detection rates for fistulas were comparable between VCS and CC.
• VCS successfully visualized urethral lumen details in patients with long anterior strictures due to lichen sclerosus, where CC failed.

Conclusions:

• CT virtual cystourethroscopy is a valuable tool for diagnosing urethral diseases.
• VCS is particularly beneficial for male patients with complex urethral strictures, offering superior visualization in specific challenging cases.