Detection of recurrent hernia and intraabdominal adhesions following incisional hernia repair: a functional cine MRI-study.

BACKGROUND: To non-invasively identify incisional hernia repair implanted synthetic meshes with MRI, and also focusing on the evaluation of postsurgical complications such as adhesions. METHODS: A total of 43 patients underwent either laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay-mesh or open abdominal wall repair using preperitoneal layers. The patients were examined using a true-fast-imaging-with-steady-state-precession (trueFISP)-sequence in transverse/sagittal orientation with a section-by-section dynamic depiction of induced visceral slide. A 9-segment-abdominal-map was used to document the adhesion location/type. The MR-images were analysed regarding hernia relapse, layer-morphology, rectus-abdominis muscle-condition, and abdominal wall mobility. In 12 patients pre- and postsurgery-MRI was performed. RESULTS: Time range between surgery and examination was 6-36 months. In all laparoscopy-patients the meshes were identified. For open surgery the mesh was not visualized in 20, but was seen in 6 cases. A total of 11 cases showed a recurrent hernia. Seventy intraabdominal adhesions were detected. Fifteen patients had restricted mobility. 20 patients showed an rectus-abdominis-muscle-asymmetry. Comparing pre- and post-op-MRI, 6 out of 8 patients with open repair showed thick scar-plaques. Three patients with open repair had new adhesion-formations postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Functional cine MRI is suitable for follow-up studies in patients after hernia repair to detect and evaluate the implanted meshes. Typical complications like intestinal adhesions and abdominal wall dysmotility can be assessed as well.

Health-related quality-of-life changes after laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair: a matched pair analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this matched control study in patients suffering from incisional hernia was to compare laparoscopic open repair (LHR) with open hernia repair (OHR) in terms of long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) according to the SF-36 Health Survey. METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients (18 male, six female; mean age, 55 years) prospectively underwent LHR using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh. The second group, which was matched for age and gender, was subjected to OHR using large pore-sized, low-weight polypropylene meshes. Before and after surgery, HRQL was assessed by the SF-36 Health Survey, which measures eight different health-quality domains, and the SF-36 Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. The SF-36 values were compared to the scores of age-stratified German population controls. RESULTS: The patients were reevaluated 16 months (range, 12-25) after LHR and 28 months (range, 18-52) after OHR, respectively. Before surgery, all of the eight health-quality domains as well as the PCS and MCS scores of both study groups were significantly lower than the corresponding scores of the age-stratified healthy German population. However, the OHR patients had significantly higher physical functioning and vitality scores than the LHR patients. After LHR and OHR, the scores for all eight SF-36 domains significantly increased but were still lower than those of the controls. The LHR patients were still worse than the norm population on both PCS and MCS scores, whereas OHR patients were worse only on PCS but not on MCS. In the long-term follow-up, none of the SF-36 Health Survey domains or the PCS and the MCS scores revealed significant differences between LHR and OHR patients. CONCLUSIONS: LHR was not different from OHR for selected indications that measure long-term outcome and HRQL. SF-36 appears to be an appropriate instrument to measure postoperative HRQL, showing responsiveness to changes in objective outcome measures.

The influence of the implant size on the outcome of unconstrained total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of implant size on the results in unconstrained total knee arthroplasty has never been investigated before. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 133 patients with unconstrained total knee arthroplasty were examined (HSS Score, Knee Society Score) with consideration of the different sizes of femoral and tibial components and the thicknesses of the tibial inlays. The medium follow up was 41.2 months (8 months to 74 months). RESULTS: Although the different component sizes gained different results, the differences were not significant. The combination of two component sizes did not lead to a significant change of the results. The results of the Knee Society Score seemed to become worse with thinner polyethylene tibial inlays although these differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, implant size had no significant influence on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty. The combination of two implant sizes showed no disadvantage.

Cine magnetic resonance imaging vs high-resolution ultrasonography for detection of adhesions after laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair: a matched pair pilot analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intraabdominal adhesions represent nonspecific complications before or after laparoscopic or open incisional hernia repair. The objective of this matched control pilot study was to display long-term adhesions noninvasively by applying functional cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, as compared with applying high-resolution ultrasonography (US). METHODS: The study group, composed of 17 consecutive patients (12 men and 5 women; mean age, 52 years), underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) mesh. Their mean body mass index was 30 kg/m(2), and the size of the hernia was 95 cm(2). Another group, matched for age, gender, and type of hernia, was subjected to open abdominal wall repair using the preperitoneal sublay technique with a large-pore, low-weight polypropylene mesh. For cine MR imaging (1.5 T), section-by-section dynamic depiction of induced visceral slide throughout the entire abdomen was achieved by applying transverse or sagittal true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequences. The location and type of adhesions were compared with high-resolution ultrasonography using nine segments of the abdominal map. RESULTS: The patients subjected to laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair were examined 16 and 28 months after surgery. The findings showed functional cine MR imaging as superior to high-resolution ultrasonography for assessing the amount of intraabdominal adhesions (n = 53 vs n = 3; p < 0.01). Most frequently, adhesions were seen between small bowel loops and the abdominal wall (n = 22), followed by bowel-to-bowel adhesions (n = 19; p < 0.05). However, adhesions between small bowel loops and the abdominal wall occurred more frequently after open mesh repair (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between patient complaints and findings with cine MR imaging (p < 0.05). Maximum pain correlated significantly with the region of the most distinctive adhesions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Functional cine MR imaging represents a reliable noninvasive technique for detecting long-term adhesions after open and laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. The study results suggest that this approach has distinct advantages over high-resolution ultrasonography.

[Visualization and quantification of large bowel motility with functional cine-MRI]. / Funktionelle Cine-MRT des Kolon: Darstellung und Quantifizierung der Darmmotilität.

PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate a method to visualize and quantify large bowel motility using functional cine MRI. METHODS: Fifteen healthy individuals (8 males, 7 females, 20 to 45 years old) with no history or present symptoms of bowel disorders were enrolled in a functional cine MRI examination at 6 a. m. after a starving phase for at least eight hours before and after oral administration of Senna tea (mild stimulating purgative). Two consecutive sets of repeated measurements of the entire abdomen were performed using a 1.5 T MRI system with coronal T2-weighted HASTE sequences anatomically adjusted to the course of the large bowel. A navigator technique was used for respiratory gating at the level of the right dorsal diaphragm. The changes in diameter (given in cm) were measured at 5 different locations of the ascending (AC), transverse (TC) and descending colon (DC), and assessed as parameters for the bowel motility. RESULTS: The mean values as a statistical measure for large bowel relaxation were determined. Before ingestion of Senna tea, the mean diameter measured 3.41 cm (ascending colon), 3 cm (transverse colon) and 2.67 cm (descending colon). After the ingestion of Senna tea, the mean diameter increased to 3.69 cm (ascending colon) to 3.4 cm (transverse colon) and to 2.9 cm (descending colon). A statistically significant difference was demonstrated with the Wilcoxon test (level of confidence 0.05). For the determination of dynamic increase, the changes of the statistical scatter amplitude to the mean value were expressed as percentage before and after the ingestion of Senna tea. Thereby, an increase in variation and dynamic range was detected for the AC (112.9 %) and DC (100 %), but a decrease in the dynamics for the TC (69 %). CONCLUSION: A non-invasive method for the assessment of bowel motility was developed for the first time. The use of functional cine MRI utilizing a prokinetic stimulus allowed visualisation and quantification of large bowel motility. Further studies have to determine whether this technique is clinically relevant.

Clinical anatomy of the pelvic floor.

The study presented here comparing cross-sectional anatomy of the fetal and the adult pelvic connective tissue with the results of modern imaging techniques and actual surgical techniques shows that the classical concepts concerning the subdivision of the pelvic connective tissue and muscles need to be revised. According to clinical requirements, the subdivision of the pelvic cavity into anterior, posterior, and middle compartments is feasible. Predominating connecting tissue structures within the different compartments are: Paravisceral fat pad within the anterior compartment (Fig. 17, I), rectal adventitia or perirectal tissue within the posterior compartment (Fig. 17, II), and uterosacral ligaments within the middle compartment. The nerve-vessel guiding plate can be found in all of these compartments; it starts within the posterior compartment and it ends within the anterior one. It constitutes the morphological border between the anterior and posterior compartments in the male. This border is supplied by the uterosacral ligaments in the female. Whereas in gross anatomy no further border is discernable between anterior and posterior or middle compartment, the rectal fascia (hardly visible in embalmed cadavers) demarcates the rectal adventitia and is one of the most important pelvic structures for the surgeon. In principle, the outlined subdivision of the pelvic connective tissue is identical in the male and in the female; facts that become clear from early human life and that are already established during this period (Fig. 18). The uterus is interposed between the bladder and rectum and subdivides the pelvic peritoneum into two pouches thus establishing the only real difference between male and female pelvic cavity. The preferential direction of the pelvic connective tissue fibers is not changed by the interposition of the uterovaginal complex. The pelvic floor muscles are composed of the portions of the levator ani muscle, the muscles of the cavernous organs and the deep transverse perineal muscle in the male. The latter does not exist in the female. We have clearly shown that the different muscles can already be found in early human life and that they are never intermingled with the muscular walls of the pelvic organs. The levator ani muscle of the female, however, is intermingled with connective tissue long before the female sexual hormones exert influence. We have also shown that the distinct sexual differences within the pelvic floor muscles as well as within the sphincter muscles can already be found in early human life. Both the external urethral and the external anal sphincter muscles are not completely circular. The external anal sphincter is intimately connected with the internal sphincter as well as with the longitudinal muscle. Whereas the innervation and function of the urethral sphincter muscles are mostly clear, cloacal development, innervation, and function of all parts of anal sphincter complex are not completely clarified. As to the support of the pelvic viscera, we believe that intact pelvic floor muscles, an undisturbed topography of the pelvic organs, and an undisturbed perineum are of more importance than the so-called pelvic ligaments. Our hypothesis points to the fact that the support of pelvic viscera is multistructural. Thus in pelvic surgery, a lot of techniques have to be revised with the aim to preserve or to reconstruct all the structures mentioned. This is a multidisciplinary task that can only be solved by cooperation of morphologists, urologists, gynecologists, and coloproctologic surgeons or by creating a multidisciplinary pelvic floor specialist.

[Functional MRI of the pelvic floor: postpartum changes of primiparous women after spontaneous vaginal delivery]. / Funktionelle Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) des Beckenbodens: Postpartale Veränderungen bei Erstgebärenden nach vaginaler Spontangeburt.

PURPOSE: Detection of morphological and functional changes of the pelvic floor with functional MRI in primiparous women after spontaneous vaginal delivery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study comprises 26 primiparous women after vaginal delivery and a control group of 41 healthy asymptomatic nulliparous volunteers. MRI was performed on a 1.5 T system in supine position with vagina and rectum opacified with Sonogel. The static images consisted of sagittal and axial T 2 -weighted SE sequences and functional images of true FISP sequences in midsagittal and axial planes acquired with the patient at rest, straining and during defecation. Evaluation of morphometric parameters included pelvimetry, thickness of the puborectal muscle and width of the urogenital hiatus as well as position and movement of the pelvic organs relative to the pubococcygeal reference line. RESULTS: The configuration of the bony pelvis did not differ for both groups. The puborectal muscle was significantly thinner in the study group (0.8 cm vs 0.6 cm). The functional images showed no significant differences between both groups at rest but a significantly increased incidence in the descent of the bladder neck, vaginal fornix and anorectal junction in the study group during straining. In addition, the primiparous women had more prominent rectoceles (0.6 cm vs 1.5 cm). CONCLUSION: Static imaging alone fails to demonstrate relevant pelvic floor changes and a functional method is necessary to evaluate the interactions of the pelvic organs regarding organ descent. Functional MRI of the pelvic floor is an excellent method to reveal the significant changes of the pelvic floor after vaginal birth without exposing the uterus to radiation.

Rectocele: pathogenesis and surgical management.

BACKGROUND: Rectocele is a common finding in patients with intractable evacuatory disorders. Although much rectocele surgery is conducted by gynecologists en passant with other forms of vaginal surgery, many reports lack appreciation of the importance of coincident anorectal symptoms, and do not report functional and clinical outcome data. The pathogenesis of rectocele is still controversial, as is the embryological and anatomical importance of the rectovaginal septum as well as recognizable defects in its integrity and its relevance in formal repair when rectocele is operated upon as the principal condition in patients with intractable evacuatory difficulty. DISCUSSION: The investigation and surgical management of rectocele is controversial given the relatively small numbers of operated patients in any single specialist unit and the relative lack of prospective data concerning functional outcome in operated cases. The imaging of rectocele patients is currently in a state of change, and the newer diagnostic modalities including dynamic magnetic resonance imaging frequently display a multiplicity of pelvic floor disorders. When surgery is indicated, coloproctologists most commonly utilize an endorectal defect-specific repair, but there are few controlled randomized data regarding outcome and response criteria of specific symptoms with particular surgical approaches. A Medline-based literature search was conducted for this review to assess the clinical results of defect-specific rectocele repairs using the endorectal, transvaginal, transperineal, or combined approaches. Only the studies are included that report both pre- and postoperative symptoms including constipation, evacuatory difficulty, pelvic pain, the impression of a pelvic mass, fecal incontinence, dyspareunia or the need for assisted digitation to aid defecation. CONCLUSION: The history of rectocele repair, its clinical and diagnostic features and the advantages, disadvantages and indications for the different surgical techniques are presented in this review. Suggested diagnostic and surgical therapeutic algorithms for management have been included. It is recommended that a multicenter controlled randomized trial comparing surgical approaches for symptomatic evacuatory dysfunction where rectocele is the principal abnormality should be conducted.

Irregular rotation and shift of computer-assisted femoral stem implantation in THA--an experimental study.

INTRODUCTION: The two available computer-assisted surgery robotic systems consist of a preoperative planning computer workstation and an industrial robot with a high speed milling device. During the computed tomography (CT) scan of the hip and the ipsilateral knee for planning the hip arthroplasty, the patient's movements are registered by a bar that is fixed at the patient's leg along its axis. Despite the companies' claim that a high accuracy of implant position can be achieved by this method, misplacements of implants are reported in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an experimental study, a cadaver femoral bone was rotated during the CT scan strictly around this bar to simulate a rotational movement of the patient. Using the CT data, the planning of the hip stem and the following preparation of the femur by the robot was possible without detection of the patient's movements by the system. According to the system manual, the computer should stop the planning or give a warning in case of patient movement during the CT scan. RESULTS: The postoperative CT scan of the cadaver femoral bone revealed a rotary deviation and a shift of the stem compared with the original planning, caused by the rotation during the CT scan. CONCLUSION: We propose using a second bar during the CT scan to detect these movements and thus avoiding misplacement of the implant.

Demonstration of periventricular brain motion during a Valsalva maneuver: description of technique, evaluation in healthy volunteers and first results in hydrocephalic patients.

There has long been a need for a sensitive and predictive parameter in the evaluation of hydrocephalic patients. Our goal was to assess ventricular response to a Valsalva maneuver as a potential method of studying patients with hydrocephalus. Twenty-five healthy volunteers and 5 patients with communicating hydrocephalus were examined with an axial and 10 volunteers with an axial, coronal and sagittal true fast imaging steady precession (FISP) sequence in a 1.5-T clinical MR scanner (TR 4.8 ms, TE 2.3 ms, flip angle 70 degrees, slice thickness 5 mm, field of view 330 mm, 3 slices). Images were assessed both as dynamic images in cine mode and by measuring lateral ventricular size over time. All volunteers showed marked periventricular brain motion. The lateral ventricular area was reduced under the Valsalva maneuver by an average of 18% (SD 7) in healthy volunteers, while remaining practically constant in the patient group. Differences were statistically significant with a p<0.0001. The Valsalva maneuver leads to periventricular brain motion, which can be consistently detected by a true FISP sequence. Our method proved to be an easy and reliable method with a capacity to identify hydrocephalic patients.

On the impact of calcified deposits within the rotator cuff tendons in shoulders of patients with shoulder pain and dysfunction.

We wanted to prove the hypothesis that calcified deposits within the rotator cuff tendons are merely an epiphenomenon of complex morphological alterations in the shoulders of patients with shoulder pain and dysfunction. The shoulders of 92 patients with calcified deposits within the rotator cuff tendons as noted on plain radiographs were investigated by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; mean age of patient 51.1 years), as well as the shoulders of 28 age- and sex-matched patients with similar clinical symptoms but without any signs of such calcified deposits on plain radiographs. The MRI protocol comprised a coronal, oblique, T1-weighted, spin-echo sequence, a T2-weighted, turbo spin-echo sequence, a sagittal, oblique, T2-weighted, turbo spin-echo sequence, and an axial, T1-weighted, spin-echo sequence. Furthermore, a coronal, oblique, short tau-inversion recovery sequence and a gradient echo sequence were used. The results were compared with data from healthy, asymptomatic volunteers as reported in the literature. The MRI investigations showed no substantial differences between patients with or without calcified deposits within the rotator cuff tendons, but distinct differences between such patients and healthy, asymptomatic volunteers. For patients with shoulder pain, shoulder dysfunction, and calcified deposits within the rotator cuff tendons, these calcified deposits are most probably not the main cause of the clinical symptoms. Rather, it seems to be useful to consider the results of MRI investigations whenever planning therapeutic procedures for patients with shoulder pain and dysfunction, irrespective of whether or not there are signs of calcified deposits within the rotator cuff tendons on plain radiographs.

Evaluation of breast lesions by power Doppler sonography.

The aim of this study was to determine the value of power Doppler sonography in the detection of tumor vascularity in breast lesions and to find new diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis. Power Doppler sonography was prospectively performed in 102 patients with 118 histologic (n = 116) and cytologic (n = 2) results. A semisubjective scoring system for the intratumoral increase in blood flow compared with the flow in normal breast parenchyma (reference structure) was introduced and the flow pattern registered. The difference in the flow increase for benign and malignant breast disease was highly significant (p < or = 0.0001). This applied especially to invasive cancer above a maximum tumor diameter of 5 mm excluding cancer stage Tis and T1a. A positive correlation between cancer size and flow increase were found. The flow pattern was an additional feature. The sensitivity was calculated to be between 74.5 and 78.8%, and the specificity between 74.6 and 77.8%. The level of flow increase in Power Doppler sonography is an important feature in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions and should be considered together with the established criteria in B-mode ultrasound. The flow pattern might also add some important information.

Functional cine magnetic resonance imaging in women after abdominal sacrocolpopexy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether functional cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a reliable method for verifying postoperative anatomy and function in women after abdominal sacrocolpopexy. METHODS: We did postoperative functional cine MRI in 25 women who had sacrocolpopexies. Visibility of grafts and vaginal and sacral fixation points were assessed and correlated with intraoperative results. Ranges of vaginal movement were calculated and compared with results of postoperative gynecologic examinations. RESULTS: Functional cine MRI achieved full view of vaginas in all cases. The mean vaginal axis was 142 degrees. Grafts were entirely visible in 13 women, partly visible in nine, and not visible in three. Functional cine MRI defined exactly the sacral fixation points in 22 women. Compared with intraoperative results, functional cine MRI showed a higher level of fixation in nine of 11 women. Functional cine MRI defined exact vaginal fixations point in 15 of 25 women. According to the pubococcygeal reference line, the postoperative range of movement of the vaginal apex was 1.8 cm. Recurrent vaginal vault prolapses in three women were detected equally by functional cine MRIs and gynecologic examinations. In those cases, no parts of patches were seen on the images. CONCLUSION: Functional cine MRI provided reliable abdominal sacrocolpopexy follow-up data. It might help with individual surgical planning and augment understanding of benefits and flaws of various surgical approaches to repair of vaginal vault prolapse.

Detection and mapping of intraabdominal adhesions by using functional cine MR imaging: preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To identify and map intraabdominal adhesions by using functional cine magnetic resonance (MR) Imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients suspected of having intraabdominal adhesions were examined. Section-by-section dynamic depiction of induced visceral slide throughout the whole abdomen was achieved by using a transverse or sagittal true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequence. Location and type of diagnosed adhesions were documented by using the nine segments of the abdominal map. These criteria and intraoperative results were compared in 13 patients. RESULTS: MR images depicted a total of 42 intraabdominal adhesions; 21 (50%) were in the lower abdomen. The most common types of adhesions were located between the ventral abdominal wall and small-bowel loops (n = 10 [24%]) and between adjacent small-bowel loops (n = 9 [21%]). Comparison with the intraoperative results showed a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 92.5%. MR imaging was most accurate in depicting adhesions to the abdominal wall (15 [94%] of 16) and subperitoneal space (eight [100%] of eight). The presence of adhesions between bowel loops was overestimated. CONCLUSION: Detection of visceral slide at functional cine MR imaging is easy to perform and represents a well-tolerated and accurate procedure for use in the identification of intraabdominal adhesions in patients with chronic pain and equivocal clinical findings.

Shockwave application in calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder--prediction of outcome by imaging.

This prospective study examined 62 patients (65 shoulders) with chronic courses of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder before and after low-energy extracorporeal shockwave application (ESWA) in order to identify variables associated with the outcome of this treatment. Before ESWA, radiographs and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected shoulders were obtained in order to document the size and morphology of the calcifications and the contrast media reactions in areas of interest (deposit, synovia, bursae), respectively. In addition, a clinical evaluation was performed. After ESWA (mean follow-up 18.2 months), clinical evaluations of all 65 shoulders revealed an increase in the Constant score from 44% to 78% (p < 0.0001). While size (p = 0.61) and morphology (p = 0.7) of the deposits before ESWA were not associated with the clinical outcome, negative contrast reactions around the deposits (p) = 0.0001), synovia (p = 0.0049) and bursae (p < 0.01) were associated with improved clinical outcomes. After the total study group was divided into two groups, one with Constant scores > or = 75% (n = 43) and the other with scores < 75% (n = 22), the positive predictive value (ppv), specificity (sp) and sensitivity (se) were determined for the negative reaction around the deposit (ppv: 0.94; sp: 0.95; se: 0.38), synovia (ppv: 0.84; sp: 0.82; se: 0.49) and bursae (ppv: 0.86; sp: 0.86; se: 0.44). In 5 cases (7.7%), surgery of the affected shoulder during the follow-up period was performed. No major side-effects were seen in the study group. In conclusion, our results suggest that in patients with chronic calcifying tendinitis, the absence of contrast enhancement, especially around the deposit, is a strong predictive parameter of a positive clinical outcome of ESWA.

[Morphological and functional pelvic floor disorders from the gynecological viewpoint]. / Morphologische und funktionelle Beckenbodenstörungen aus gynäkologischer Sicht.

PURPOSE: The following article is designed to describe the diagnostics and therapy of morphological and functional defects in the female pelvic floor from a gynaecological point of view. Assessment of the relevance of imaging techniques is of particular importance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The main diagnoses are: in the anterior compartment of the pelvic floor, urethro- cystocele; in the middle compartment, uterine descent/prolapse or enterocele; and in the posterior compartment, rectocele. They are clinically examined by means of a standardised gynaecological examination and classified according to recommendations from the International Continence Society (ICS) in order to obtain internationally comparable results. Comparison with the usual imaging procedures (introitus- and perineal sonography, colpocystorectography/defaecography and functional MRI of the pelvic floor) are described and critically discussed. The most important functions affected are storage and evacuation of the bladder and rectum. They are clinically examined by means of stress test and padweigh test and technically examined using urodynamics, sphincter-rectum manometry and EMG. Imaging procedures play a very important role here also. RESULTS: Comparison of clinical and imaging procedures shows that the two methods are at present limited in comparability, mainly because different points of reference are used to quantify results. The line of the hymen is a good point of reference in grading descent and prolapse. During the gynaecological examination, the three compartments can readily be assessed separately by use of split gynaecological specula. This is presently practically impossible using imaging procedures. The pubococcygeal line is generally used to describe findings. DISCUSSION: Scientific progress can only be expected if and when these problems are studied as a whole. Imaging procedures have securely established themselves in the diagnostic repertoire, but do not as yet influence therapy decisions. The indication and choice of operation depend on the severity of the patient's symptoms the clinical findings and the results of urodynamic investigations. Dynamic CTG is presently the most reliable method of showing all three compartments at rest and during function. It has largely replaced colpocystorectography. Sonography is found to be varied in ist results at the moment.

[Functional MRI of the pelvic floor: its normal anatomy and pathological findings]. / Funktionelle MRT des Beckenbodens: normale Anatomie und pathologische Befunde.

PURPOSE: Functional MRI of the pelvic floor allows mapping and definition of different forms of pelvic floor dysfunction. METHODS: We performed functional MRT of the pelvic floor in 39 healthy nulliparas and 324 patients. The diagnosis of a pathological organ descent was made if certain landmarks of the pelvic floor compartments descended below the pubococcygeal reference-line (PC-line). RESULTS: If there was no organ descent below the PC-line on straining and if the pelvic floor muscles hardly changed position, a normal finding was diagnosed. 70% of organ prolapses came in the combined form. The generally gradual development of an organ descent led to a change of the main finding in 21.6%. The masking of a cystocele (48.6%) or of an enterocele (34.3%) by a rectocele was most frequent in these cases. DISCUSSION: The use of functional MRI of the pelvic floor appears to be especially useful in young patients, in cases of divergent clinical and sonographic or radiological findings and if the presence of a predominant hernial sac with or without enterocele/rectocele is supposed.

[Functional MRI of the pelvic floor. The methods and reference values]. / Funktionelle MRT des Beckenbodens. Methodik und Referenzwerte.

PURPOSE: Functional cine MRI of the pelvic floor is a yet another modality in addition to various radiological fluoroscopic techniques. This article describes our own method in view of the recent literature and provides morphometric reference values. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We examined 20 nulliparous women (range of age: 25-51 years) with normal findings in the gynecological and urodynamic examination. Functional cine MRI was performed on a 1.5 Tesla equipment after opacification of the vagina and rectum. We used a T2-weighted gradient-echo sequence (Ture-FISP) to determine the position of the reference organs at rest and during straining/defecation. Two different reference lines were used. In addition 29 morphometric and functional parameters were measured, all of them being observer independent. RESULTS: Functional cine MRI was able to show the extent and interaction of the pelvic floor organs in all cases with the reference organs always remaining above the pubococcygeal reference line. The depth of the rectocele was 2 cm. With the exception of the diameter of urogenital hiatus the different parts of the levator ani muscle could not be determined. DISCUSSION: Functional cine MRI using an appropriate organ opacification and slice positioning is an objective, unifying diagnostic approach of the pelvic floor. The reference data given can be of help to distinguish normal from abnormal findings.

Malignant hemangiopericytoma of the bone.

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular tumor of pericyte origin with variable malignant potential. Very rarely, this tumor occurs as a primary bone lesion. We present a case of a highly malignant hemangiopericytoma of the proximal tibia. Current therapy consists of radical resection of the tumor with postoperative radiation therapy being recommended. Chemotherapy seems to be useful in disseminated disease. The prognosis correlates to the histological grading of the tumor. Early or late recurrence and distant metastases with fatal outcome, as shown in our case study, are not uncommon.