Fast magnetic resonance imaging of pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is abnormal displacement of the pelvic organs from their normal anatomical position. Patients may present with a variety of symptoms, including pain, incontinence, constipation, urinary retention, and defecatory dysfunction. Any combination of cystocele, rectocele, enterocele, sigmoidocele, peritoneocele, and prolapse of the vagina and uterus may occur. Therefore, accurate preoperative evaluation of each organ is important for proper surgical planning. Compared with physical examination and other imaging modalities, advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) include a global multiplanar view of the pelvis, and the lack of ionizing radiation and invasive procedures. Subsecond MRI techniques have not only shortened the imaging time to minimize motion artifacts but provide the capability for dynamic MRI. In this pictorial essay, we describe fast MRI techniques, MRI findings, and the associated clinical findings in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. We also refer to limitations of MRI.