title: [Comparison of levator ani muscles in three-dimensional MRI-based models in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse at rest].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of the levator ani muscles in three-dimensional (3D) MRI-based models in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse at rest to analyze the morphological characteristics of levator ani muscles in women with POP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five women with POP and 22 women with normal pelvic support were selected from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University. Axial, sagittal, and coronal T2-weighted pelvic magnetic resonance scans were obtained with the women in the supine position.The 3D models were reconstructed from the source images. Morphological changes was compared within the two groups of levator ani muscles, and the 3D models were measured to determine the levator ani muscle volume (LVOL), levator plate angle (LPA), levator hiatus width (LH-W) and length (LH-L), distance between symphysis and levator sling muscle (LSG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no puborectalis avulsions in control, in POP, 3 cases of avulsions just in left, 3 cases of avulsions just in right, 7 cases in bilateral. The shape of iliococcygeus were all dome-shaped in control, 11 cases were U-shaped and 14 cases were dome-shaped in POP. The shape of levator hiatus were 7 cases of U-shape, 12 cases of V-shape, 3 cases of irregular in control; 5 cases of U-shape, 4 cases of V-shape, 16 cases of irregular in POP. POP versus control: LH-L: (68.0 ± 8.9) versus (61.6 ± 7.2) mm (P < 0.05); LH-W: (41.4 ± 3.9) versus (38.0 ± 3.2) mm (P < 0.05); LSG-L: (29.6 ± 7.4) versus (24.6 ± 3.7) mm (P < 0.05); LSG-R: (28.4 ± 6.8) versus (23.9 ± 3.2) mm (P < 0.05); LPA: (51.0 ± 11.3)° versus (40.6 ± 6.3)° (P < 0.05); LVOL: (23.7 ± 5.8) versus (24.6 ± 5.0) cm³ (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to assess the morphologic changes of levator ani by using 3D MRI models objectively, our 3D data demonstrate larger in LVOL, LPA, LH-W, LH-L, LSG, and the changes in shape. It is helpful to diagnose and assess the specific situation of patients POP in clinic.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Liu
authors: Ruolan
authors: R
authors: Chen
authors: Email: jieru@163.com.
authors: Chunlin
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Lan
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: Peng
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Huang
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Huanqing
authors: H
authors: Tan
authors: Kedan
authors: K
authors: Liao
authors: Lian
authors: L
authors: Tang
authors: Yuezhi
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Tang
authors: Shizhen
authors: S
authors: Zhong
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000473:pathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014596:Uterine Prolapse