Cystography and defecography

Abstract

Perineal sonography and fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are currently confronting conventional x-ray studies in the diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse including cystocele, enterocele, peritoneocele, and rectocele, with no evidence of substantial discrepancies among the three modalities. Contrast-enhanced studies still serve as the standard of reference in specific cases such as genuine stress urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunctions, neurogenic bladder, poor emptying, and obstructed defecation syndrome in the postoperative anorectum. The advent of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound and the availability of a remote-controlled, mobile vertically oriented MR system are expected to reduce the inaccuracy rate of these modalities in the diagnosis of advanced pelvic organ prolapse, making conventional studies almost obsolete within a few years. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Milan.