The diagnosis and management of acquired urethral stricture disease

Urethral stricture disease is a commonly presenting problem to the urologist. Any condition that damages the urethral epithelium or underlying spongy tissue has the potential to cause a stricture. Patients with a urethral stricture can present either acutely or chronically with a range of urinary symptoms. An understanding of urethral stricture disease and a systematic approach to the history and investigations will enable clinicians to manage patients appropriately. This article aims to give an overview, appropriate for surgeons in there early years of training, on the aetiology, presentation and investigation of urethral stricture disease, as well as a basic understanding of the principles of management.