[Endoanal MR imaging: diagnostic assessment].

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Gastroenterology
• Pelvic Floor Disorders

Background:

• Anal endosonography is a standard for imaging the anal sphincter complex.
• Morphological abnormalities of the anal sphincters are key indicators in anal incontinence.
• Understanding sphincter integrity is crucial for treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate endoanal MR imaging as an alternative to anal endosonography.
• To assess the capability of MR imaging in visualizing external and internal anal sphincter morphology.
• To determine MR imaging's efficacy in detecting abnormalities associated with anal incontinence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a dedicated anal receiver coil for endoanal MR imaging.
• Acquired high-resolution images of the external and internal anal sphincter complex.
• Analyzed images for morphological abnormalities, including disruption and atrophy.

Main Results:

• Endoanal MR imaging provides high-resolution visualization of the anal sphincter complex in any plane.
• MR imaging demonstrated external anal sphincter disruption with efficacy comparable to endosonography.
• MR imaging showed superior ability in detecting external anal sphincter atrophy, often secondary to neuropathy.

Conclusions:

• Endoanal MR imaging is a viable alternative to endosonography for anal sphincter assessment.
• MR imaging effectively visualizes sphincter morphology and abnormalities relevant to anal incontinence.
• The detection of muscular atrophy via MR imaging may influence the prognosis of anal sphincter repair, particularly for obstetric-related injuries.