TY - JOUR
T1 - MRI of female urethra and periurethral pathologies
AU - Itani, Malak
AU - Kielar, Ania
AU - Menias, Christine O.
AU - Dighe, Manjiri K.
AU - Surabhi, Venkat
AU - Prasad, Srinivasa R.
AU - O’Malley, Ryan
AU - Gangadhar, Kiran
AU - Lalwani, Neeraj
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, The International Urogynecological Association.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - Introduction and hypothesis: Accurate diagnosis of a wide spectrum of urethral/periurethral pathologies in women remains challenging due to its anatomical location and nonspecific clinical presentations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the modality of choice for diagnosing female urethral and periurethral pathologies due to its multiplanar scanning capability, superior soft tissue differentiation, noninvasive nature, and overall excellent contrast resolution. Methods: In this narrative review, we describe the use of MRI to visualize the female urethra and periurethral pathologies. Results: MRI can confidently characterize lesions into cystic or solid, provide a more succinct differential diagnosis, and in some cases provide a specific and accurate diagnosis, enabling surgeons to prepare a roadmap before operative procedure. Moreover, functional MRI can be useful to assess dynamic disorders such as urethral hypermobility. Conclusions: We provide a comprehensive review of normal MR anatomy of the female urethra, as well as the MR features of practically important urethral and periurethral lesions.
AB - Introduction and hypothesis: Accurate diagnosis of a wide spectrum of urethral/periurethral pathologies in women remains challenging due to its anatomical location and nonspecific clinical presentations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the modality of choice for diagnosing female urethral and periurethral pathologies due to its multiplanar scanning capability, superior soft tissue differentiation, noninvasive nature, and overall excellent contrast resolution. Methods: In this narrative review, we describe the use of MRI to visualize the female urethra and periurethral pathologies. Results: MRI can confidently characterize lesions into cystic or solid, provide a more succinct differential diagnosis, and in some cases provide a specific and accurate diagnosis, enabling surgeons to prepare a roadmap before operative procedure. Moreover, functional MRI can be useful to assess dynamic disorders such as urethral hypermobility. Conclusions: We provide a comprehensive review of normal MR anatomy of the female urethra, as well as the MR features of practically important urethral and periurethral lesions.
KW - Female urethra
KW - MRI
KW - Periurethral pathologies
KW - Skene or periurethral gland cysts
KW - Urethral carcinoma
KW - Urethral diverticulum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957427076&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00192-015-2790-x
DO - 10.1007/s00192-015-2790-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 26209954
AN - SCOPUS:84957427076
SN - 0937-3462
VL - 27
SP - 195
EP - 204
JO - International Urogynecology Journal
JF - International Urogynecology Journal
IS - 2
ER -