Bacteriologic, histologic and ultrasonographic findings in strictures recurring after urethrotomy: A preliminary study

Twelve men with recurrent anterior urethral stricture after endoscopic urethrotomy (2-12 attempts) underwent open urethroplasty with en bloc removal of diseased urethral segments. Bacteriologic and histologic studies of the excised urethral tracts (mucosa and spongiosum tissue) were performed. The bacteriologic findings were compared with the results of preoperative urine cultures and urethral swabs for chlamydia. The histologic findings were related to preoperative ultrasonographic observations, in order to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in depicting structural changes in spongiosum around the strictured urethral tract. Beta-haemolytic streptococci and Streptococcus faecalis were cultured from the excised spongiosum, without correlation to the preoperative culture results. The histologic studies confirmed the usefulness of urethral ultrasonography for accurate demonstration of the inflammatory changes involving spongiosum around the strictures. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd.