Non-invasive evaluation of pediatrics urethral stenosis: the cine-urethro RM, preliminary report

Introduction & Objectives: To assess accuracy of non-invasive dynamic technique to investigate children urethra stenosisusing MRI. Materials & Methods: From January 2019, 10 children (mean age 12,5 years old: min 7 yo, max 15 yo) with suspected urethral stenosis wereprospectively enrolled in the study. Every patient underwent Cine-Urethro RM (INTERA 1,5 T, Philips Medical Systems, Best, the Netherlands)without administration of gadolinium contrast. Balance sequences, with cycles every 0,5 second to result in cine effect were used. Two experiencedradiologist independently revised the exam. Every patient underwent subsequent standard urethrocystography.Results: Cine-urethro MRI was completed in 9 patients, 1 was excluded as he was not able to urinate during the exam. MRI found a urethralstenosis was in 100%. An assessment of the entire urethral length was possible in 7/9 (77,7%) pts, while in 2/9 (22,3%) three portions of theurethra (prostatic, bulbar and initial portion of the penile) was visualized. Of those 7/9 cases were a stenosis of the penile urethra, 1 of the bulbarurethra and 1 of the glandular urethra.Conclusions: Cine-Urethra-MRI is a promising method to study the children urethra. It showed an excellent detection rate for stenosis located inthe urethra, avoiding to pediatric patients catheterization and exposure to x-rays.