Lei Chen1, Chao Feng2, Xiang-Guo Lv3, Hai-Hao Fan4, Pankaj Joshi5, Guido Barbagli6, Yu-Min Zhao7, Yue-Min Xu2, Zhe Li8, Bing Hu9, Qiang Fu10. 1. Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. 2. Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. 4. Department of Med-X Research Institution, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. 5. Center for Reconstructive Urology, Pune, India. 6. Centro Chirurgico Toscano, Arezzo, Italy. 7. School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. 8. College of Materials and Textile Engineering, Jiaxing University, Zhe Jiang, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lizhe830817@163.com. 9. Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: binghu_Stephen@163.com. 10. Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: jamesqfu@aliyun.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The sonourethrogram is a useful alternative to the traditional retrograde urethrogram to evaluate anterior urethral strictures. With the development of 3-dimensional reconstructive techniques 3-dimensional urethral imaging can provide more accurate and useful information to enable the surgeon to make the best surgical decisions. We evaluated the accuracy and efficacy of a 3-dimensional reconstructed digital model of the urethra based on the sonourethrogram to assess anterior urethral disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients with an anterior urethral stricture and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study from April 2014 to January 2017. All patients and volunteers underwent sonourethrogram and retrograde urethrogram. Three-dimensional urethral models were reconstructed based on the sonourethrogram. Stricture length and location on retrograde urethrogram or sonourethrogram based images were compared with those found at operation. RESULTS: The 3-dimensional digital model revealed the entire anterior urethra, including the navicular fossa, and the penile and bulbar parts. The semitransparent model clearly demonstrated the structure of the corpus spongiosum and inside the urethral lumen. Further information on spongiofibrosis could also be seen in the 3-dimensional digital model. There was no significant difference in stricture length or location in the 3-dimensional model compared with retrograde urethrogram imaging and actual surgical findings. However, the latest technique could only reconstruct the short segment of the anterior urethra due to the probe width limitation. CONCLUSIONS: The 3-dimensional computerized model based on the sonourethrogram is a novel and effective technique of evaluating anterior urethral strictures.
PURPOSE: The sonourethrogram is a useful alternative to the traditional retrograde urethrogram to evaluate anterior urethral strictures. With the development of 3-dimensional reconstructive techniques 3-dimensional urethral imaging can provide more accurate and useful information to enable the surgeon to make the best surgical decisions. We evaluated the accuracy and efficacy of a 3-dimensional reconstructed digital model of the urethra based on the sonourethrogram to assess anterior urethral disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients with an anterior urethral stricture and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study from April 2014 to January 2017. All patients and volunteers underwent sonourethrogram and retrograde urethrogram. Three-dimensional urethral models were reconstructed based on the sonourethrogram. Stricture length and location on retrograde urethrogram or sonourethrogram based images were compared with those found at operation. RESULTS: The 3-dimensional digital model revealed the entire anterior urethra, including the navicular fossa, and the penile and bulbar parts. The semitransparent model clearly demonstrated the structure of the corpus spongiosum and inside the urethral lumen. Further information on spongiofibrosis could also be seen in the 3-dimensional digital model. There was no significant difference in stricture length or location in the 3-dimensional model compared with retrograde urethrogram imaging and actual surgical findings. However, the latest technique could only reconstruct the short segment of the anterior urethra due to the probe width limitation. CONCLUSIONS: The 3-dimensional computerized model based on the sonourethrogram is a novel and effective technique of evaluating anterior urethral strictures.