Retrograde Urethrography and Voiding Cystourethrography: Indications and Findings in Patients Presenting with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Jos, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Urethrography is a radiologic procedure that optimizes imaging evaluation of the urethra, particularly in settings of difficulty with micturition or urethral injury. Urethrography remains the gold standard imaging tool, providing reliable and accurate diagnosis and staging of urethral stricture disease.

Materials and methods: A 10-year review of patients' archive who had retrograde urethrography or combined urethrography examinations in a peripheral facility from January 2014 to December 2023 was carried out. A total of 247 patients with complete records who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Demographic data, clinical indications, and the imaging findings were documented. The data were collated, entered into a computer, and processed by the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23, to determine frequencies (means ± standard deviations). The results are presented using frequency tables and percentages as appropriate. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant with a confidence interval of 95%.

Results: The examination was normal in 89 (36.0%) patients. Urethral stricture was the commonest abnormality (44.5%) and commonly affects the bulbar urethra (70.9%). About 83.6% of the patients with stricture had 1-2 strictures while 16.4% had multiple urethral strictures. About 63.6% of patients with urethral strictures had short segment stricture, which was common at the bulbar urethra.

Conclusion: Urethrography is an effective and cheap means of imaging the urethra mostly indicated on account of strictures and lower urinary tract symptoms. The urethral stricture is the commonest abnormal finding, which commonly affects the bulbar urethra.

Keywords: Post prostatectomy; retrograde urethrogram; stricture; urethra; urethroplasty.