[Normal female urethra and paraurethral structure--evaluation with MR imaging].
The appearance of the normal female urethra on magnetic resonance (MR) images was studied in 40 patients by means of a 1.5 Tesla unit. Morphologic characteristics and anatomic details of the urethra and pubourethral ligament were demonstrated in each patient. MR imaging depicted an outer muscle layer of low signal intensity. Medial to the outer muscle layer, the submucosa was seen as a high-signal-intensity ring, followed by an inner low-signal-intensity ring. In the mid-urethra, a central high-signal-intensity spot was seen in 38% of cases, a finding that may be related to urine and mucus within the mucosal cells. The zonal anatomy of the female urethra was obscure in the over 60 years of age. MR imaging is an excellent tool for demonstrating female urethral anatomy.
Sugimura
K
K
Department of Radiology, Shimane Medical University.
Yoshikawa
K
K
Okizuka
H
H
Kaji
Y
Y
Ishida
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D014521:Urethra / Q000473:pathology*