Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Neoplasia, Normal variants, MR, Anatomy, Pelvis
Authors:
A. Ventriglia, R. Manfredi, S. Mehrabi, L. Zantedeschi, F. Castelli, R. Negrelli, A. Adami, R. Pozzi Mucelli; Verona/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/C-1509
Background
Pelvic floor imaging is particularly important to gynecologists in the pre-surgical planning for a better management of the Patient.
The development of new surgical techniques,
like the nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy,
necessitates the translation of surgical anatomy into anatomic imaging in order to improve Patient’s quality of life after the operation (3,4).
The pelvic floor is a complex structure with passive components like fasciae and ligaments,
and active components like muscles (1).
This multilayer system provides pelvic support,
maintains continence,
and coordinates relaxation during urination and defecation.
In recent years,
nerve sparing radical hysterectomy has proven successful in reducing postoperative bladder,
colorectal and sexual dysfunction.
To improve this kind of surgery,
it is fundamental to understand the pelvic floor anatomy,
especially the pelvic fasciae,
because most of the damage of the nerves occurred during the incision of the vescico-uterine ligament (4).
Therefore,
in the vision of improving both cure and quality of life of the Patient,
the MR study of the anatomy of the pelvic floor deserves consideration for the surgical preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves,
in the treatment of the female genital tract pathologies.