Urethral bulking agents: imaging review.
OBJECTIVE
At imaging, injectable bulking materials used for urinary incontinence have the potential to mimic urethral and periurethral pathology. This article elucidates the appearance of the most commonly used agents in multiple techniques and helps the practicing radiologist avoid potential diagnostic pitfalls.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon-coated microbeads (Durasphere) and cross-linked bovine collagen (Contigen) have fairly characteristic imaging appearances and can in most cases be differentiated from true pathology.
Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. bridges.mellena@mayo.edu
Mellena D
MD
Bridges
Steven P
SP
Petrou
Deborah J
DJ
Lightner
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000628:therapy*; D014567:Urography
D011108:Polymers; D003094:Collagen