Purpose
to assess the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in patients affected by urinary stress incontinence (SUI) by MRI
Methods and Materials
we evaluate 25 women with clinical evidence of SUI and 5 women with no evidence of SUI.
SUI diagnosis was made by a Urogynecologist through physical examination and urodynamics.
All patients (pts) underwent MR in the supine position before and within 10 days after therapy.
All pts completed the ICIQ-UI Short Form before MR examination
To evaluate the morphological changes in the levator ani muscle we performed TSE HR T2-w sequences and obtained 3D analysis by a specific evaluation-software.
We compared the ventral component of...
Results
at pre-treatment MR,
all pts with SUI showed hypotrophy of the ventral component of the levator ani muscle; the volume in pts with SUI ranged from 30 to 35 ml and the ventral component of the muscle had a 33% smaller cross-sectional area compared with the women with no symptoms (P < .001).
At the post-treatment MR 20 of the 25 pts with SUI showed a strong gain of muscular substance.
Their levator ani almost doubled its volume ranging from 60 to 68 ml and...
Conclusion
MR allows to assess the efficacy of PFMT
References
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Urinary incontinence as a worldwide problem.
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Physiologic evaluation of the...
Personal Information
Dr.
Riccardo Del Vescovo,
MD
Department of Radiology
University Campus Bio-Medico School of Medicine
Via Alvaro del Portillo 200,
00128 Rome
Cell.:+39-338-1111915
e-mail:
[email protected]