Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor--possibilities and present status

MRI has had both an increasing availability and fuctionality during the last 5-10 years. In diagnosing problems of the pelvic floor, it has been shown to have a potential, but is at present not to be considered a routine examination. Today's use of MRI of the pelvis includes anatomical/topographical images of high quality, but to make it a valuable diagnostic tool, functional imaging is mandatory. Functional MRI with a potential of simultaneously examining defecation, micturition, bladder motion and pelvic floor muscles, seems promising, but with having practical problems. The use of open MRI systems reduce the practical problems, but does not give the optimum image quality. In the future it is likely that MRI will have an increasing importance concerning diagnoses of the pelvic floor. However, clinical research is needed to evaluate the possible diagnostic gains, and maybe even open for more use of MRI.