Comparative study of sonourethrography and conventional urethrography in determining the length of anterior urethral strictures

Abstract

Background: Conventional urethrography has been the “Gold standard” in the evaluation of anterior urethral strictures. Sonourethrography (SUG) is less invasive, more readily available, and cheaper and does not use ionizing radiation.

Objective: To determine the length of anterior urethral strictures diagnosed on conventional urethrography using SUG and compare findings on SUG with conventional urethrography in adult male patients

Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out over a period of twelve months, whereby 66 male patients with clinically suspected anterior urethral strictures and confirmed on retrograde urethrography (RUG)/ Micturatingcystourethrography (MCUG) were examined using SUG. The length of anterior urethral strictures from both procedures were compared. The data analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23(SPSS Inc, IL, USA). At 95% confidence interval, P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result: Sixty six patients were studied. The mean age of the participants was 56.7±13.7years with an age range of 20 – 78 years. The stricture lengths and diameters were consistently higher on SUG compared to conventional urethrography. The mean length of stricture on RUG/MCUG and SUG were 19.4 ± 6.0mm and 21.3± 6.7 mm respectfully. The mean difference for the stricture lengths on RUG/MCUG and SUG was 1.9 mm and this was statistically significant (CI = 0.983 – 2.761, p < 0.001). The mean diameter of the stricture on RUG/MCUG and SUG were 2.2± 0.7mm and 5.6± 1.2mm and the mean difference for the stricture diameter on both techniques was 3.4mm (CI= 3.158 – 3.577, p<0.001), which was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Significantly higher mean stricture length and diameter were found on SUG compared with RUG/MCUG.