title: Use of a Balloon Rectal Catheter in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Complex Anal Fistula to Improve Detection of Internal Openings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of a balloon rectal channel catheter (BRCC) in complex anal fistula magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was done on 54 patients with clinical diagnosis of complex anal fistula. Eighteen patients had preoperative MRI before and after inserting BRCC. Another 18 underwent MRI with BRCC and the rest without. Fistulas, internal openings, extensions, and abscesses were identified on MRI and compared with surgical findings. Intraindividual and interindividual differences with and without BRCC were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In intragroup patients, the accuracy of MRI in detecting the number of fistulas, internal openings, extensions, and abscesses before and after using BRCC was 100%/100%, 67%/90%, 95%/95%, and 100%/100%, respectively, with a significant difference on internal openings (P < 0.05). In intergroup patients with and without BRCC, the accuracy was 98%/96%, 88%/71%, 97%/100%, and 100%/100%, respectively, still with a significant difference on internal openings (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance imaging with BRCC may facilitate detection of internal openings in complex anal fistula.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology, Shanghai Shuguang Hospital Affiliated With Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; †Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hosipital, Fudan University; and ‡Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shanghai Shuguang Hospital Affiliated With Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Songhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Shuohui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ruixin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult