Intrinsic Abnormalities of the Urethral Wall

Abstract

Inflammation of the urethral mucosa is very common, but most cases are easily treated and do not come to radiological attention. The three main causes are uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis, chalmydia trachomatis infection, and other nonspecific types of urethritis, due to ureaplasma urealyticum, trichomas vaginalis, and (rarely) herpes simplex virus. Some further simplify the classification into either gonococcal or nongonococcal urethritis. Another common cause is posttraumatic urethritis, for example after instrumentation or post urethral catherization, especially after the use of latex-based catheters. All these conditions seldom present for imaging, but if imaging is carried out in the acute stage, a subtle irregularity is seen related to the anterior urethra. An example is shown in Fig. 12.2. More chronic cases result in urethral strictures.