title: Perineal ultrasound in the study of urethral mobility: proposal of a normal physiological range.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine, using perineal ultrasound, the physiological range for urethral mobility in normal women. Sixty healthy women were enrolled. The ultrasound parameters obtained with a perineal "static" and "dynamic" evaluation method were: pubic-urethral distance and inclination angle of the urethral axis. We propose a physiological range of pubic-urethral distance under stress in young women between 10 and 15 mm, the inclination angle of the urethral axis is between 60 and 100 degrees . In peri-post-menopause women we establish a non-rigid range of mobility in relation to age and parity: between 15 and 18 mm for the pubis-urethra distance and 80 degrees and 120 degrees for the angle of the urethral axis. Defining a range of normality for urethral mobility through ultrasound is useful for further studying therapeutic choices and help to identify the surgical correction and post-operative follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Second University of Naples, Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, 80138 Naples, Italy. dipietto3@tin.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Pietto
authors.forename: Cono
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scaffa
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambiase
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cobellis
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colacurci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010502:Perineum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014521:Urethra / Q000502:physiology*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology