Diagnosing Female Urethral Diverticula with MRI
Author Information
Author(s): S. Porten, S. Kielb
Primary Institution: University of California San Francisco
Hypothesis
Can physical exams accurately diagnose urethral diverticula with or without the use of MRI?
Conclusion
Urethral diverticula can often be diagnosed through physical exams, and MRI is useful for surgical planning, especially for complex cases.
Supporting Evidence
- 92.9% of patients were suspected to have a diverticulum based on physical exam.
- 85% of patients who underwent surgery had a postoperative diagnosis of urethral diverticulum confirmed.
- 95% of patients with available imaging had the correct diagnosis made by MRI or CT.
Takeaway
Doctors can often tell if a woman has a urethral diverticulum just by examining her, and MRI can help plan surgery if needed.
Methodology
A retrospective chart review of female patients diagnosed with urethral diverticulum from 1999 to 2004 was conducted, documenting symptoms, diagnosis methods, and outcomes.
Potential Biases
Reviewer dependent bias and interoperator variability in imaging interpretations.
Limitations
The study is retrospective, has a small sample size, and may have variability due to different physicians performing exams.
Participant Demographics
28 female patients with a mean age of 42.6 years (range 18–66).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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