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New Frontiers in Molecular and Imaging Research on Evaluation and Diagnosis of Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Women

  • Reconstructed Bladder Function & Dysfunction (M. Kaufman, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) often presents a challenge in female patients. Traditional diagnostic elements such as symptom history and urodynamic data are rarely clear cut in women. Therefore, we sought to review the current literature on diagnosis of female BOO, focusing on new frontiers in the realm of molecular markers and imaging modalities.

Recent Findings

In addition to fluoroscopy in the setting of videourodynamics, ultrasound and MRI can augment the diagnosis and aid in therapeutic planning in certain etiologies of female BOO. Furthermore, multiple potential biomarkers (i.e., nerve growth factor, prostaglandins, ATP) that have been studied in correlation to BOO in animal models as well as human subjects hold promise for diagnostic applications.

Summary

These novel techniques may augment standard clinical and urodynamic evaluation of BOO in females. Future directions include further studies of each of these biomarkers in female patients with BOO compared to normal controls to test their feasibility as potential screening tools.

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the National Institutes of Health Grant K12 DK0083014 and the Multidisciplinary K12 Urologic Research Career Development Program to Dolores J. Lamb from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (RK).

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  1. Department of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6560 Fannin, Suite 2100, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Laura Martinez & Rose Khavari

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  1. Laura Martinez
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  2. Rose Khavari
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Correspondence to Rose Khavari.

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Drs Martinez and Dr. Khavari have no conflicts of interests to disclose.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Reconstructed Bladder Function & Dysfunction

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Martinez, L., Khavari, R. New Frontiers in Molecular and Imaging Research on Evaluation and Diagnosis of Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Women. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 12, 291–297 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-017-0429-0

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