Visualization of periurethral structures by 3D endovaginal ultrasonography in midsagittal plane is not associated with stress urinary incontinence status

Our aim was to determine the association between visualizing periurethral structures in the midsagittal plane with 3D endovaginal ultrasonography (EVUS) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) status. In a cross-sectional study, we measured urethral length and scored for presence or absence of the following in midsagittal plane in patients with and without stress SUI: striated urogenital sphincter, longitudinal/circular smooth muscle, vesical trigone, trigonal plate, trigonal ring, and compressor urethra. Summary statistics were calculated for the study population. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare continuous data. Categorical data was compared with the chi-square. Data from 161 patients was available for review. Mean patient age was 54.4 [±15.6 standard deviation (SD)] years, and median parity was two (range 0–5). Among these women, 137/161(85 %) did not have SUI and 24/(15 %) did; 20/161 (12 %) had anterior-compartment prolapse stage 2 or greater, and among them, only two had urinary incontinence (UI). No association was found between UI and visualization of the periurethral structures. Mean urethral lengths did not differ between groups (p = 0.37). Visualization of periurethral structures by 3D EVUS in the midsagittal plane is not associated with SUI status.