Open AccessDynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the behavior of the mid‐urethra in healthy and stress incontinent women
Author(s) -
RINNE KIRSI MARJA,
KAINULAINEN SAKARI,
AUKEE SINIKKA,
HEIN SEPPO,
NILSSON CARL GUSTAF
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016340903555982
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , urethra , stress incontinence , urology , anatomy , urinary incontinence , gynecology , radiology
Objectives. Support of the mid‐urethra is thought to be an essential element of urinary continence in the female. Our aim was to image the behavior of the mid‐urethra in healthy volunteers and in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) patients by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design. Prospective study. Setting. Gynecology outpatient clinic association with Department of Radiology in University Hospital of Kuopio, Finland. Sample and methods . Fifteen healthy volunteers and 40 SUI women underwent dynamic MRI at rest, during pelvic floor muscle contraction, coughing and voiding with a bladder volume of 200 ml. Our aim was to determine the precise location and movement of the mid‐urethra during these activities. Main outcome measure. The co‐ordinate location and movement of the mid‐urethra. Results. Continent volunteers can elevate their mid‐urethra significantly higher than incontinent women. Moreover, the mid‐urethra of incontinent women rotated significantly more dorsocaudally during straining and coughing than in continent women. Conclusions. Elevation of the mid‐urethra was more marked in continent compared to urinary incontinent women on pelvic floor muscle contraction suggesting sufficient support of the urethra. Downward movement of the mid‐urethra was more significant in stress incontinent women than in continent volunteers.