Imaging of the normal male urethra from the neonate to the elder: radiologic anatomy in fluoroscopic urethrography.

This poster is published under an open license. Please read the disclaimer for further details.

Congress:

ECR 2014

Poster Number:

C-1524

Type:

Educational Exhibit

Keywords:

Education and training, Normal variants, Cystography / Uretrography, Fluoroscopy, Genital / Reproductive system male, Anatomy

Authors:

A. Charsoula, D. Katsiba, C. Kaitartzis, A. Papadimitriou, C. NALMPANTIDOU, I. Torounidis, D. Rafailidis, M. Arvaniti; Thessaloniki/GR

DOI:

10.1594/ecr2014/C-1524

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/ecr2014/C-1524

Fig. 1: Parts of male urethra. 1+2: posterior urethra 3+4: anterior urethra

Fig. 3: a. RUG: Posterior urethra may not be shown at all even in normal subjects....

Fig. 4: In urethrography male urethra is shaped like a horizontally inverted “S”.

Learning objectives

To present the radiologic anatomy of the normal male urethra in conventional urethrography examinations in association with the type of urethrography performed (either retrograde or voiding) and the age of the patient.

Background

The male urethra extends from the internal urethral sphincter at the neck of the bladder to the external urethral orifice at the tip of the penis. It is approximately 20cm long (18-25cm) and is divided anatomically and radiologically into two main segments: the posterior urethra, which begins at the neck of the bladder, terminates at the urogenital diaphragm and can be subdivided into prostatic and membranous parts the anterior urethra, which extends from the inferior margin of the urogenital diaphragm to the external urethral meatus...

Findings and procedure details

Anterior and posterior normal urethra on RUG and VUG: different methods - different appearance To understand urethrography images and the differences in the appearance of anterior of posterior urethra depending on the type of the urethrography performed, one should consider the presence of the external urethral sphincter at the urogenital diaphragm. The resistance that the external urethral sphincter exerts to the retrograde (ascending) injection of contrast in Retrograde Urethrography (RUG) creates full distension and therefore better depiction of the anterior urethra. In a similar manner,...

Conclusion

Conventional retrograde and voiding urethrography still remain the best initial imaging methods for the evaluation of urethral anatomy and pathology. Anterior urethra is visualized on retrograde urethrography and a voiding study is more appropriate for the posterior urethra.In most cases though, it is necessary to perform both studies in order to ensure that a significant abnormality is not missed out or a normal variant is not misunderstood as pathology, since the two techniques have complementary roles. Radiologists should be familiar with normal imaging anatomy of...

Personal information

Radiology Department of "G.Gennimatas" Hospital of Thessaloniki, GREECE M. Arvaniti D. Katsiba D. Rafailidis I. Torounidis A. Charsoula C. Kaitartzis C. Nalmpantidou A. Papadimitriou e-mail address: [email protected] mail address: "G.Gennimatas" Hospital of Thessaloniki Radiology Department 41 Ethnikis Aminis St. 54635 Thessaloniki GREECE

References

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