RESTON, Va -- November 20, 2009 -- In women with lower urinary tract symptoms, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows clinicians to diagnose pelvic organ prolapse, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
If left untreated, living with pelvic prolapse can be a challenge, both physically and emotionally, as the symptoms can disrupt day-to-day life. The condition often goes undiagnosed on static MRI and at physical examination
The study, performed at New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, included 84 women with lower urinary tract symptoms who underwent dynamic and static MRI scans for a suspected urethra abnormality.
Of the patients, 10 were found to have an abnormality of the urethra. "However 33 patients were diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse, of whom 29 were diagnosed exclusively on dynamic imaging," said lead author Genevieve L. Bennett, MD, NYU Langone Medical Center.
"Dynamic imaging allows for the detection of pelvic organ prolapse, which may not be evident at rest but only detected when the woman strains," said Dr. Bennett.
"The results of our study show that in women with lower urinary tract symptoms who undergo MRI for evaluation of a suspected urethra abnormality, the addition of dynamic MRI permits detection of pelvic organ prolapse that may not be evident on static at rest images and that may also go undetected at physical examination," she said.
SOURCE: American Journal of Roentgenology
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