[Color-coded Doppler sonography of the male urethra: studies in vivo and experimental results]

The so-called ureter jet is a well known phenomenon, which consists of echoes due to turbulent urine flow emanating from the ureteral orifices during forced diuresis. These motion phenomena are also visible in colour Doppler examinations. In analogy to the ureter jet we could demonstrate different colour phenomena in the normal (n = 20) and stenosed (n = 14) male urethra during voiding by using colour coded Doppler sonography. These observations are obviously caused by turbulent urine flow. In an experimental study, this hypothesis could be verified. Because certain intraurethral colour phenomena are related to stenoses of the urethra, and because their intensity depends on the degree of stenosis and on urine flow (in ml/s), it seems to be possible to draw conclusions on the urodynamic consequences of a stenosis in the urethra by means of colour coded Doppler sonography.