Defecographic measurements of rectal intussusception and prolapse in patients and in asymptomatic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to provide measurements for the defecographic diagnosis of rectal intussusception and rectal prolapse.


METHODS
Four hundred thirty-seven consecutive patients with defecation and micturition disorders and gynecologic complaints were studied by means of defecography (120 patients), colpodefecography (17 patients), or cystocolpodefecography (300 patients). As a control group, 43 asymptomatic subjects underwent defecographic examination.


RESULTS
Thirty-five patients were found to have rectal intussusception and 18, to have rectal prolapse. Anterior and posterior rectal wall folding thickness, intussuscipiens diameter, intussusceptum lumen diameter, and the ratio between the intussuscipiens diameter and the intussusceptum lumen diameter were measured in all patients. The findings were compared with those obtained in 13 of 43 asymptomatic subjects with rectal outline changes mimicking intussusception. Rectal folding thickness and the ratio between the intussuscipiens diameter and the intussusceptum lumen diameter were significantly greater in subjects with rectal intussusception and rectal prolapse than in asymptomatic subjects with rectal mucosa folding.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that dynamic evacuation radiology contributes to making a differential diagnosis between rectal intussusception and mucosal folds in the rectum.
Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences and Special Therapies, Radiology, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.
F
F
Pomerri
M
M
Zuliani
C
C
Mazza
F
F
Villarejo
A
A
Scopece
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019841:Defecography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007443:Intussusception / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging