A Reliable and Robust Method of Measuring Male Pelvic Floor Muscle Volume Using Three-dimensional Computed Tomography

Area of Science:

• Anatomy and Imaging Science
• Urology and Sexual Health Research

Background:

• The pelvic floor muscles (PFM) are crucial for male urinary and sexual functions.
• Currently, no objective method exists for quantifying male PFM volume.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of measuring male PFM volume using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT).
• To establish a standardized and reproducible method for male PFM volume assessment.

Main Methods:

• Five male patients underwent thin-slice CT scans.
• PFMs were reconstructed into stereoscopic images using a workstation to measure volume.
• Two raters performed measurements three times each to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient).

Main Results:

• The average male PFM volume was consistently measured by both raters (approx. 46.3 cm³).
• High intra-rater (0.99) and inter-rater (0.98) correlation coefficients demonstrated excellent reliability.
• CT attenuation values of PFMs varied between 13.7 and 38.9 Hounsfield Units.

Conclusions:

• Male PFM volume measurement using 3D-CT is feasible and highly reproducible.
• This study presents the first standardized method for measuring male PFM volume with 3D-CT.
• The findings provide a reliable objective tool for male PFM assessment.