Keywords:
Pelvic floor dysfunction, Defecography, MR, Pelvis, Abdomen
Authors:
G. Gatta1, G. Di Grezia2, A. Faggian3, N. L. Pizza4, F. Iasiello1, M. Tecame1, R. Grassi5, A. Rotondo6, S. Cappabianca7; 1Napoli/IT, 2Avellino/IT, 3Cardito (Na)/IT, 4Nola (NA)/IT, 5Napoli (NA)/IT, 6Naples (NA)/IT, 7Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE)/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-1996
Methods and Materials
Eighteen patients with clinical evidence of pelvic floor descent were enrolled (mean age,
45 years).
In accordance with the guidelines of our institute,
written informed consent was asked at all patients.
Imaging Technique
Patients first underwent SE-MR in a 1.5-T closed magnet (Magnetom Symphony,Siemens,Germany).
All patients were imaged supine (recumbent).
To ensure an adequate bladder filling,
all patients were invited to drink 500–700 ml of water 10–15 min before the examination.
The rectum and the vagina were filled with 200 mL and about 25–30 mL ,
respectively,
with ultrasonographic gel.
It was used a body-phased-array receiver coil.
Subsequently the patients underwent UP-MR in a 0.25 T open-magnet (G-Scan,
Esaote) and the exams were repeated with rectums and vaginas filled of gel,
using a belt coil with a circumferential transmit-receive coil part positionated on the WC.
Overall MR time for the study in the two positions,
was approximately of 45 minutes.
Image Analysis
We studied the degree of descent of the bladder,
vagina and anorectal junction as the vertical and perpendicular distance between the pubococcygeal line and the bladder base,
the vaginal vault and the anorectal junction.
Those measurement were obtained during 3 phases : squeezing,
straining and defecation.