Affiliation:
1. The Pelvic Floor Unit, Colorectal Department St Thomas' Hospital London UK
2. Neuro‐Gastroenterology Unit University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London UK
3. Radiology Department University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London UK
Abstract
AbstractAimThe aim of this work was to determine the range of normal imaging features during total pelvic floor ultrasound (TPFUS) (transperineal, transvaginal, endovaginal and endoanal) and defaecation MRI (dMRI).MethodTwenty asymptomatic female volunteers (mean age 36.5 years) were prospectively investigated with dMRI and TPFUS. Subjects were screened with symptom questionnaires (ICIQ‐B, St Mark's faecal incontinence score, obstructed defaecation syndrome score, ICIQ‐V, BSAQ). dMRI and TPFUS were performed and interpreted by blinded clinicians according to previously published methods.ResultsThe subjects comprised six parous and 14 nulliparous women, of whom three were postmenopausal. There were three with a rectocoele on both modalities and one with a rectocoele on dMRI only. There was one with intussusception on TPFUS. Two had an enterocoele on both modalities and one on TPFUS only. There were six with a cystocoele on both modalities, one on dMRI only and one on TPFUS only. On dMRI, there were 12 with functional features. Four also displayed functional features on TPFUS. Two displayed functional features on TPFUS only.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the presence of abnormal findings on dMRI and TPFUS without symptoms. There was a high rate of functional features on dMRI. This series is not large enough to redefine normal parameters but is helpful for appreciating the wide range of findings seen in health.