MRI diagnosis of ejaculatory duct obstruction

Objective To explore the MRI features of ejaculatory duct obstruction.Methods During January 2003 to Dccember 2010,transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) was performed for 106 patients and underwent surgical treatment for ejaculatory duct obstruction.Among them,16 patients underwent MRI examination.The MRI features of ejaculatory duct obstruction in these patients were summarized.Results Ejaculatory duct cysts,ranging in size from 4 mm ×4 mm ×7 mm to 4 mm ×4 mm ×9 mm and locating in the paramedian line,were detected in 5 of the 16 patients; ejaculatory duct dilation located in the paramedian line was detected in 7 patients,with the internal diameter of 5 to 30 mm. After contrast injection,significant enhancement of the wall of the ejaculatory duct was observed in 2 patients.Mullerian duct cysts complicated with dilated ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicles were detected in 4 patients,in whom the cysts were located in the median line,ranging in size from 4 mm × 5 mm × 6 mm to 34 mm×35 mm ×44 mm,with inverted teardrop shaped pointing toward the seminal colliculus.Conclusion The most common MRI features of ejaculatory duct obstruction are ejaculatory duct dilation and ejaculatory duct cysts. Key words: Infertility,male;  Ejaculatory ducts;  Magnetic resonance imaging