title: Can MRI predict which patients are most likely to benefit from percutaneous positioning of volume-adjustable balloon devices?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful in predicting which patients affected by stress urinary incontinence (SUI) will benefit from a new anti-incontinence therapy named adjustable continence therapy (AC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated a group of 25 female patients affected by SUI and treated with ACT. Before and after treatment all patients were clinically assessed by physical examination, urodynamic evaluation and pad test. All patients had an MR examination before and 3 and 12 months after ACT surgery to compare the position of the bladder neck in relation to the pubococcygeal line (PCL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  21/25 (84%) patients were improved; 16 (64%) of these patients were dry and 5 (20%) significantly improved. Before treatment, the mean PCL distance was significantly different (p<0.01) between the responsive and the non-responsive groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI provides an effective radiological method to predict the efficacy of the ACT.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stecco
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saponaro
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crivellaro
authors.forename: Antonio Raffaele
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cotroneo
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frea
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carriero
authors.forename: Ervin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocjancic
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods