Functional cine-MRI of the pelvic floor - Normal anatomy and pathologic findings

Purpose. Functional MRI of the pelvic floor allowes mapping and definition of different forms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Methods. We performed functional MRT of the pelvic floor in 39 healthy null iparas and 324 patients. The diagnosis of a pathological organ descent was made if certain landmarks of the pelvic floor compartments descended below the pubococcygeal reference-line (PC-line). Results. If there was no organ descent below the PC-line on straining and i f the pelvic floor muscles hardly changed position,a normal finding was dia gnosed. 70% of organ prolapses came in the combined form. The generally gra dual development of an organ descent led to a change of the main finding in 21,6%. The masking of a cystocele (48,6%) or of an enterocele (34,3%) by a rectocele was most frequent in these cases. Discussion. The use of functional MRI of the pelvic floor appears to be esp ecially useful in young patients, in cases of divergent clinical and sonogr aphic or radiological findings and if the presence of a predominant hernial sac with or without enterocele/rectocele is supposed.