title: Significance of urethral fibrosis evaluated by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of continence status after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to assess the impact of urethral fibrosis on the continence status following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The findings of fibrosis of the urethral wall and periurethral tissue in 185 patients undergoing RARP were each divided into grade 0 to 3 based on preoperative T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Urethral fibrosis was defined as the sum of both grades, and scores ≤ 2 and ≥ 3 were considered as 'no/mild' and 'severe' fibrosis, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of continence in patients with no/mild fibrosis were significantly higher at 3, 6, and 12 months after RARP than those with severe fibrosis. Furthermore, urethral fibrosis was identified as an independent predictor of the postoperative continence status at 3, 6, and 12 months after RARP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of urethral fibrosis could be a significant predictor of recovery of the urinary continence status after RARP. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Momozono
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014521:Urethra / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; prostate cancer; robot-assisted radical prostatectomy; urethral fibrosis; urinary continence