title: A review of functional pelvic floor imaging modalities and their effectiveness.
abstract: The anatomy of the pelvic floor is complex and clinical examination alone is often insufficient to diagnose and assess pathology. With a greater understanding of pelvic floor dysfunction and treatment options, imaging is becoming increasingly common. This review compares three imaging techniques. Ultrasound has the potential for dynamic assessment of the entire pelvic floor. Magnetic resonance imaging is able to rapidly image the entire pelvic floor but it is expensive and tends to underestimate pathology. Dynamic defaecating proctography or cystocolpoproctography is the current gold standard for posterior compartment imaging but requires opacification of the bladder to provide a global view.
authors.affiliation: New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: aminah.ahmad@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Aminah N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: St Peter's Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hainsworth
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alexis M P
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schizas
mesh_terms: D019841:Defecography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Defaecating proctography; MRI; Pelvic floor imaging comparison; Ultrasound