RESULTS OF RETROGRADE URETHROGRAPHY IN CATS WITH IDIOPATHIC, NONOBSTRUCTIVE LOWER URINARY-TRACT DISEASE AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PATHOGENESIS - 53 CASES (1993-1995)
Pv. Scrivani et al., RESULTS OF RETROGRADE URETHROGRAPHY IN CATS WITH IDIOPATHIC, NONOBSTRUCTIVE LOWER URINARY-TRACT DISEASE AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PATHOGENESIS - 53 CASES (1993-1995), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 211(6), 1997, pp. 741
Objective - To describe results of retrograde urethrography in cats wi
th idiopathic, nonobstructive lower urinary tract disease (LUTD), to r
eview the normal anatomy of the feline urethra, and to relate anatomy
observed radiographically to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of LUTD in
cats. Design - Retrospective case series and anatomic study. Animals
- 53 cats with signs of nonobstructive LUTD for which an underlying ca
use could not be determined. Results for these cats were compared with
those for 6 healthy female cats undergoing urethrocystoscopy for anot
her study and 6 male cats without a history of LUTD undergoing necrops
y examination. Procedure - Medical records, results of positive-contra
st retrograde urethrography (cats with idiopathic, nonobstructive LUTD
) and urethrocystoscopy (healthy female cats), and necropsy findings (
healthy male cats) were reviewed. Results - Abnormalities were not det
ected during urethrocystoscopy, dissection, or urethrography. Previous
ly, the urethra in male cats has been described simply as a long tube
that tapers caudally, and the only structures consistently differentia
ted by radiography have been pelvic and penile parts. In this study, t
he seminal colliculus, isthmus of the urethra, preprostatic part of th
e urethra, and urethral crest were consistently observed in male cats
in addition to pelvic and penile parts. The urethral crest also was ob
served in the comparatively simple female urethra. Clinical Implicatio
ns - During retrograde urethrography in cats, prior distention of the
bladder with positive-contrast medium may obscure radiographic signs a
ssociated with normal anatomic structures. Knowledge of urethral anato
my and radiographic signs associated with idiopathic, nonobstructive L
UTD in cats should improve understanding of the pathogenesis and diagn
osis of this disease.