Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Published on: April 17, 2019
Vaginal shape at resting pelvic MRI: predictor of pelvic floor weakness?
Allison A Tillack1, Bonnie N Joe2, Benjamin M Yeh2
1Department of Radiology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357115, RR210, Seattle, WA 98195-7115, USA.
Objective:
The objective was to determine if alteration in vaginal shape seen on nonstraining pelvic magnetic resonance (MR) scans is associated with pelvic floor weakness.
Methods:
Two readers classified the shape of the middle third of the vagina on resting T2-weighted axial images as normal or abnormal for 76 women with and without pelvic floor weakness.
Results:
The sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing pelvic floor dysfunction were 84% and 68% for reader A and 41% and 91% for reader B. Interobserver agreement was fair (kappa=0.39).
Conclusions:
Architectural distortion of vaginal shape on routine pelvic MR imaging may suggest pelvic floor dysfunction but is not diagnostic.
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