title: Role of perineal sonography in the evaluation of patients with stress urinary incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the role of perineal sonography in diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with stress urinary incontinence and 17 age-matched control patients were included in the study. Perineal sonography was carried out in both groups to evaluate the role of this technique in the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence. By using the posterior edge of the symphysis pubis as a reference point, posterior urethra-vesical angle (beta angle) and the angle between the vertical axis and urethral axis(alpha angle) were measured at rest and on straining. Bladder neck mobility was evaluated only at the cephalocaudal plane by measuring the desensus diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Posterior urethro-vesical angle (beta angle) was found to be significantly different between the study and control groups both at rest and on straining (P < 0.05). The angle between the vertical axis and urethral axis (alpha angle) was found to be significantly different between study and control groups only on straining (P < 0.05). Cephalocaudal distance (desensus diameter) was longer in patients with stress urinary incontinence (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perineal sonography has an important role in diagnosing patients with stress urinary incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. sendag@med.ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sendag
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vidinli
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazandi
authors.forename: Ismail M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Itil
authors.forename: Niyazi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Askar
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vidinli
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourbagher
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010502:Perineum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*