title: MRI of female urethra and periurethral pathologies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accurate diagnosis of a wide spectrum of urethral/periurethral pathologies in women remains challenging due to its anatomical location and nonspecific clinical presentations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the modality of choice for diagnosing female urethral and periurethral pathologies due to its multiplanar scanning capability, superior soft tissue differentiation, noninvasive nature, and overall excellent contrast resolution.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this narrative review, we describe the use of MRI to visualize the female urethra and periurethral pathologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRI can confidently characterize lesions into cystic or solid, provide a more succinct differential diagnosis, and in some cases provide a specific and accurate diagnosis, enabling surgeons to prepare a roadmap before operative procedure. Moreover, functional MRI can be useful to assess dynamic disorders such as urethral hypermobility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provide a comprehensive review of normal MR anatomy of the female urethra, as well as the MR features of practically important urethral and periurethral lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA. mitani9@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Malak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itani
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. aniakielar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ania
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kielar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA. cookyscan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christine O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Menias
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA. dighe@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Manjiri K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Dighe
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA. venkateswar.r.surabhi@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Venkat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Surabhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. SPrasad2@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Srinivasa R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA. ryanomal@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA. kirang.585@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gangadhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA. neerajl@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lalwani
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014523:Urethral Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Female urethra; MRI; Periurethral pathologies; Skene or periurethral gland cysts; Urethral carcinoma; Urethral diverticulum