title: The usefulness of MR defecography in the evaluation of pelvic floor dysfunction: our experience using 3T MRI.
abstract: To assess the usefulness of MR defecography in evaluating pelvic floor dysfunction, and to correlate several pelvic organ abnormalities with each other and with patients' symptoms and characteristics.
  
  
  
  MR defecographic examinations performed in 3T MRI machine of 95 patients (70 females, 25 males; mean age 48) were retrospectively reviewed. Pelvic organ abnormalities from all three compartments were recorded, including the anorectal junction descent, anterior rectocele, and cystocele. These were graded according to the known HMO system in relation to the pubococcygeal line. The correlation between these different abnormalities and their relation to patient symptoms and characteristics were evaluated.
  
  
  
  Anorectal junction descent and anterior rectocele were most commonly observed, predominantly manifesting in female patients. Both were associated with abnormalities from all compartments. The middle compartment was the least affected, and its abnormality of uterine/vaginal descent tended to occur in association with the anterior compartment abnormality (cystocele). Anismus was low in incidence, and was not associated with other compartments abnormalities. Both enterocele/peritoneocele and intussusception were uncommon.
  
  
  
  MR defecography is the modality of choice in assessing pelvic floor dysfunction, because it can neatly show various pelvic organ abnormalities from all compartments in a dynamic fashion, which are frequently coexistent. It can even show clinically silent or unsuspected abnormalities which can impact the management of patients.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, The University of Jordan Hospital, Queen Rania Street, P. O. Box 13046, Amman, 11942, Jordan. drmahasennajjar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mahasen S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Najar
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, The University of Jordan Hospital, Queen Rania Street, P. O. Box 13046, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ahmed F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ghanem
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Saif Aldeen S
authors.initials: SAS
authors.lastname: AlRyalat
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, The University of Jordan Hospital, Queen Rania Street, P. O. Box 13046, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
authors.forename: Nosaiba T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Al-Ryalat
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, The University of Jordan Hospital, Queen Rania Street, P. O. Box 13046, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
authors.forename: Sultan O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Alhajahjeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019841:Defecography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Anorectal junction; Anterior rectocele; Cystocele; MR defecography; Uterine descent