title: Diagnostic precision of endoanal MRI in the detection of anal sphincter pathology: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic precision of endoanal magnetic resonance imaging in identifying anal sphincter injury and/or atrophy when compared with either endoanal ultrasound or surgical diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative meta-analysis was performed on nine studies, comparing endoanal MRI with endoanal ultrasound or surgical diagnosis in 157 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated for each study. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC) and subgroup analysis were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall sensitivity and specificity of endoanal MRI for external sphincter injury was 0.78 (95%CI: 0.66-0.84) and 0.66 (95%CI: 0.51-0.79), respectively. For internal sphincter injury detection, this was 0.63 (95%CI: 0.50-0.74) and 0.71 (95%CI: 0.60-0.81), respectively. For detection of atrophy, this was 0.86 (95%CI: 0.71-0.95) and 0.82 (95%CI: 0.65-0.93), respectively. The area under the SROC curve and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.84 (SE = 0.07) and 6.14 (95%CI: 2.17-17.4) for external sphincter injury, 0.79 (SE = 0.07) and 4.60 (95%CI: 1.75-12.15) for internal sphincter injury, and 0.92 (SE = 0.08) and 21.49 (95%CI: 2.87-160.64) for sphincter atrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoanal MRI was sensitive and specific for the detection of external sphincter injury and especially sphincter atrophy. It may be useful as an alternative to endoanal ultrasound in patients presenting with fecal incontinence, although further clinical studies are needed to identify its best application in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosurgery & Surgical Technology, Imperial College, QEQM Wing, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anstee
authors.forename: Dow-Mu
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Wadyslaw
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gedroyc
authors.forename: Paris P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Tekkis
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity