MR imaging of fistula-in-ano

Accurate preoperative assessment of fistula-in-ano is mandatory if the fistula is not to recur. In recent years, MRI has become pre-eminent for fistula assessment and recent studies have shown that not only is MRI more accurate than surgical assessment, but that surgery based on MRI can reduce further disease recurrence by approximately 75%. The main role of MRI is to alert the surgeon to fistula tracks and extensions that would otherwise have gone undetected and, thus, untreated at the time of surgical assessment under general anaesthetic.