MR Imaging Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor for the Assessment of Vaginal Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence

Pelvic MR imaging using the combination of motion-insensitive T2-weighted single-shot fast spin echo and high soft tissue resolution standard T2-weighted fast spin echo techniques has helped to identify soft tissue abnormalities that directly correlate with the clinical and intraoperative findings related to pelvic floor prolapse. In particular, the authors have shown that pelvic MR imaging has the ability to identify changes related to uterosacral ligament disruption and to document the corrective changes after surgical repair of this ligament. In the future, pelvic MR imaging is expected to play a progressively larger role in preoperative planning for complex or uncertain cases and for more detailed evaluation of repair in cases that do not show good symptomatic response. Pelvic MR imaging should also help to document and advance knowledge of surgical repair methodology.