MR imaging of the female urethra

This paper evaluates the appearance of the female urethra on noncontrast and contrast-enhanced MR images and to evaluate the potential of MR imaging in the diagnosis of various urethral conditions and the staging of urethral tumors. Sixty-four patients (mean age, 54.6 years) were studied. Normal urethra was assessed in 36 patients, and urethral pathology (including urethral diverticula, inflammatory granuloma, and primary and metastatic neoplasms) in 28. MR imaging was performed on a 1.5-T magnet (General Electric Signa). T1-weighted (500/20) and T2-weighted (2,500/80) images were obtained, with a section thickness of 5 mm (20% gap), a 192 x 256 matrix, and two excitations. In 27 patients, T1-weighted images were repeated after intravenous injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA