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MRI of the Pelvic Floor

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MRI and CT of the Female Pelvis

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

Abstract

Pelvic floor dysfunction comprises disorders related to pelvic floor descent and pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, defecation disorders, or pelvic pain. Although it may also occur in young age, typically postmenopausal women suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction that may significantly impair the quality of life. Its etiology is multifactorial, but female gender, increasing age and childbirths have been recognized as leading risk factors. MRI has emerged as an imaging technique to provide comprehensive information and has become an important diagnostic tool for treatment planning and for tailoring the surgical approach in pelvic floor pathologies.

This chapter reviews MRI for evaluation of the pelvic floor. The first part focuses on details of the examination technique, and provides information to assess qualitatively and quantitatively the pelvic floor. In the second part typical imaging findings associated with pathologies within the three anatomical compartments of the pelvic floor are covered. Finally, strengths and limitations of MRI of the pelvic floor will be discussed.

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Abbreviations

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

PCL:

Pubococcygeal line

POP:

Pelvic organ prolapse

US:

Ultrasonography

WI:

Weighted images

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitätsinsitut für Radiologie Landeskliniken Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstr., 48, Salzburg, Austria

    Rosemarie Forstner

  2. Radiologie Mühleninsel, Mühlenstrasse 4, Landshut, 84028, Germany

    Andreas Lienemann

Authors
  1. Rosemarie Forstner
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  2. Andreas Lienemann
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Correspondence to Rosemarie Forstner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

    Rosemarie Forstner

  2. Serviço de Radiologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Lisbon, Portugal

    Teresa Margarida Cunha

  3. Charité Universitätsmedizin, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Bernd Hamm

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Forstner, R., Lienemann, A. (2017). MRI of the Pelvic Floor. In: Forstner, R., Cunha, T.M., Hamm, B. (eds) MRI and CT of the Female Pelvis. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2017_53

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2017_53

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42573-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42575-7

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