title: Ultrasound: a noninvasive screening test for detrusor instability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether transvaginal ultrasound measurement of bladder wall thickness can be used as a screening test for detrusor instability in women with urinary symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A blinded prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A London teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eight-four symptomatic women presenting to a urodynamic clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The detection of detrusor instability by means of videocystourethrography (VCU) and ambulatory urodynamics in women with a mean bladder wall thickness of greater than 5 mm measured by transvaginal ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eight women had a mean bladder wall thickness of greater than 5 mm. Ninety-four percent (102) of these women had detrusor instability either when undergoing VCU or ambulatory urodynamics. Seventeen women had a bladder wall thickness of less than 3.5 mm of whom three were found to have detrusor instability on VCU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of a mean bladder wall thickness greater than 5 mm with transvaginal ultrasound is a sensitive screening method for diagnosing detrusor instability in symptomatic women without outflow obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khullar
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics