Diagnosis of female urethral diverticulum using pelvic floor ultrasound and comparison with voiding cystourethrogram (imaging study)

Introduction and hypothesis The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of pelvic floor ultrasound (PFUS) in the diagnostic work-up of female urethral diverticulum (UD) and to compare results of PFUS with voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Methods We retrospectively reviewed our database of patients, who received VCUG and PFUS for the diagnosis of UD. A total of 196 consecutive female patients with a minimum of one symptom, such as a lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS), postmicturition dribble, dyspareunia and recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) who underwent initial diagnostics with VCUG and PFUS were selected. Diagnostic performance of both procedures, which included size, complexity, echogenicity. and content were compared. Results Recurrent UTI and LUTS were the most common symptoms, which were present in 165 (84%) and 163 patients (83%) respectively. Final diagnosis of UD was based on PFUS and VCUG findings in 69 (35%) and 58 (30%) cases respectively. Based on our study cohort, the sensitivity of PFUS in detecting UD was significantly higher than that of VCUG: 94% (IQR: 89-97) versus 78% (IQR: 73-85, p<0.01), with a trend toward higher specificity: 100% (IQR: 94-100) versus 84% (IQR: 78-84, p=0.05). Enabling direct UD visualisation, PFUS was associated with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% (IQR: 97-100) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 88% (IQR: 78-95), whereas VCUG had an inferior accuracy with a PPV of 84 (IQR: 80-84) and a NPV of 68 (IQR: 62-79). Conclusions In clinical practice, VCUG has a lower sensitivity than PFUS. Based on these results, we recommend the usage of dynamic PFUS as part of a non-invasive work-up.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of pelvic floor ultrasound (PFUS) in the diagnosis of female urethral diverticulum (UD) and compared it with voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). The results showed that PFUS had higher sensitivity and specificity compared to VCUG, suggesting the use of PFUS as part of a non-invasive diagnostic work-up.