[MR imaging in obstetrics and gynecology]

Excellent tissue contrast in MRI permits noninvasive visualization of the normal anatomy, physiology, and disease processes of the female pelvis. Although MRI has various disadvantages, including its higher cost compared with sonography and CT and its long scanning time, many studies have reported a positive impact of MRI on treatment decisions and net cost analysis in the evaluation of gynecologic diseases. In addition to traditional static images, recent advances in ultrafast MR imaging have provided MR angiography, MR urography, and kinematic images of the pelvis. Kinematic evaluation of the pelvis by MR imaging is an epoch-making event. Kinematic images can be obtained by a cine-mode display of many images obtained by ultrafast imaging techniques such as FISP, HASTE, SSFSE, and others. Pelvic floor descent, an adhesion caused by endometriosis or surgery, and uterine peristalsis can be clearly shown on kinematic images. Since disorders in uterine peristalsis are hypothesized to be the causes of a variety of clinical symptoms such as fertility problems and dysmenorrhea, ultrafast MRI may be a powerful tool for elucidating the functions of the uterus in the future.