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Focal levator ani eventrations: detection and characterization by magnetic resonance in patients with pelvic floor

H K Pannu1, R Genadry, S Gearhart

  • 1Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. hpannu@jhmi.edu

International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
|July 10, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Focal levator eventrations, a type of pelvic floor dysfunction, were found in 13.5% of patients using MRI. These muscle abnormalities, characterized by outpouchings, are common and can be researched further.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders
  • Anatomy

Background:

  • Pelvic floor dysfunction affects many individuals, impacting quality of life.
  • Levator ani muscle abnormalities can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key tool for visualizing pelvic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of focal levator eventrations in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.
  • To describe the imaging characteristics of these eventrations using MRI.
  • To evaluate the clinical relevance of levator muscle morphology in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 81 dynamic MR pelvic examinations.
  • Identification and characterization of focal levator eventrations based on defined criteria (angle >180°, depth ≥1 cm).
  • Analysis of the contents protruding into the eventrations (pelvic viscera, fat, fluid).

Main Results:

  • Focal levator eventrations were identified in 11 out of 81 patients (13.5%).
  • Eventrations were bilateral in 2 cases, right-sided in 5, and left-sided in 4.
  • Contents included pelvic viscera (5 cases), fat (7 cases), and fluid (1 case).

Conclusions:

  • Focal levator ani muscle abnormalities are a relatively common finding on MRI in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.
  • Characterizing levator muscle morphology via MRI can serve as a valuable research tool.
  • Further research into levator muscle morphology may enhance understanding and treatment of pelvic floor disorders.

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