Riccardo Del Vescovo MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Federico Collettini, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eliodoro Faiella MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sofia Battisti, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rosario Francesco Grasso MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bruno Beomonte Zobel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

to assess the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in patients affected by urinary stress incontinence (SUI) by MRI

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 the two muscle branches between them, before and after therapy

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 the cross sectional areas was 90% bigger then it appeared before the treatment In 5 pts (12%) the increase in muscle volume was poorer (< 60%) and the asymmetry did not modify substantially

MR allows to assess the efficacy of PFMT

MR allows to assess the efficacy of PFMT

Del Vescovo, R, Collettini, F, Faiella, E, Battisti, S, Grasso, R, Beomonte Zobel, B, Magnetic Resonance Analysis of Levator Ani Morphology Variations to Assess the Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Patients Affected by Urinary Stress Incontinence.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9012391.html