How are urethral strictures diagnosed?
Simply put, the urethra is like a garden hose. When there is a kink or narrowing along the hose, no matter how short or long, flow can be significantly reduced. When a stricture becomes narrow enough to decrease urine flow, the patient will develop symptoms. Frequent urination, urinary tract infections and inflammation or infections of the prostate and scrotal contents (epididymis) may occur. With long-term severe obstruction, damage to the kidneys can occur. Evaluation of patients with urethral stricture disease includes a physical examination, urethral imaging (X-rays or ultrasound) and sometimes urethroscopy. The retrograde urethrogram is an invaluable test to evaluate and document the stricture and define the . Combined with antegrade urethrogram, length of the stricture in order to plan surgical correctioncan be determined. The retrograde urethrogram is performed as an outpatient X-ray procedure and can defineindicate the number, position, length and severity of the stricture(s).
