Retrograde urethrography (RUG) combined with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) versus surgical findings in assessment of urethral strictures length.

Background and objective: Retrograde urethrography (RUG) combined with voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is the most common and preferred imaging modality for evaluating urethral strictures, despite its well-known limitations and disadvantages. In this study, we assessed the clinical relevance of RUG + VCUG, along with intraoperative assessment in measuring male urethral strictures.

Method: This study was a single-center retrospective study involving 134 male patients diagnosed with urethral stricture disease. All participants underwent RUG + VCUG before the intervention, and the results were interpreted by a single radiologist. The location and length of urethral strictures were assessed. The accuracy of urethral stricture measurements obtained from combined VCUG and RUG imaging was compared to intraoperative measurements, which served as the reference standard. Urethral strictures were classified into three types: membranous and bulbomembranous, bulbar, and penile.

Results: A total of 130 patients were included (38.14 ± 12.05 years) in the study. For patients with membranous and bulbar strictures, there were statistically significant differences in stricture length measurements between VCUG + RUG and surgical evaluation (p < 0.05). However, for patients with penile strictures, the differences in stricture length measurements between VCUG + RUG and surgical evaluation were not statistically significant (p = 0.448).

Conclusion: This study suggests that RUG + VCUG may underestimate urethral stricture, particularly in the membranous and bulbar regions.