Katie St. Germain Mason MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Aarti Sekhar MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

1. Though only 4 cm long, the female urethra can present with a wide range of pathology, which is most easily recognized on MR imaging. 2. Urethral diverticula: important to describe location of neck to facilitate transvaginal resection; also recognize complications such as stones, infection and malignancy 3. Skene’s gland cysts: classic distal periurethral location and recognize that they can get infected 4. Distal urethral tumors are more likely to be squamous cell carcinoma and have a better prognosis. Entire urethral tumors tend to be urothelial carcinoma or adenocarcinoma and have a high rate of invasion and pelvic nodal metastases. 5. Stress urinary incontinence affects 50% of women over the age of 65. Management techniques include mid-urethral slings and bulking agents. These interventions have varying imaging appearance depending on time from injection and their composition.

1. Anatomy of the female urethra 2. Benign lesions: diverticula (and their complications), Skene’s gland cysts, leiomyoma, vaginal cysts 3. Malignancy: distal tumors versus tumors involving the entire urethra – staging, prognosis and treatment 4. Stress urinary incontinence: clinical factors and surgical techniques: slings, urethral bulking agents

http://abstract.rsna.org/uploads/2014/14009591/14009591_819b.pdf

Mason, K, Sekhar, A, The Female Urethra: An Imaging Review.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14009591.html