Stricture disease: radiology of urethral stents.
Self-expanding metal stents are emerging as an effective alternative treatment in the management of urethral obstruction. The radiologic studies of 33 men with anterior urethral strictures (subprostatic, n = 11; bulbar, n = 22) that had recurred despite repeated optical urethrotomy and dilation were reported. In all patients, the stricture was successfully treated with stent insertion. Urethrography performed 1 month later in 19 patients showed an irregular intrastent lumen of varying degrees due to a hyperplastic urothelial reaction confirmed at endoscopy the same day. Available follow-up urethrograms in seven patients at 3 months showed that the hyperplasia was settling, and by 6 months, the intrastent lumen was smooth and of good caliber. Urethrography revealed postoperative structures in 14 patients. Strictures seen at 1 month (n = 6) were due to initial stent misplacement and were treated with the insertion of a second stent. Strictures seen 3 months after insertion (n = 4) occurred within the stent lumen and were considered to be significant at endoscopy in only one patient. Strictures that developed 6-12 months after stent insertion (n = 4) were not within the stent and were considered to represent genuine new strictures.
Donald
J J
JJ
Department of Radiology, Middlesex Hospital, London, England.
Rickards
D
D
Milroy
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003558:Cystoscopy; D004106:Dilatation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012212:Rheology; D015607:Stents; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014556:Urine / Q000502:physiology; D014563:Urodynamics