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Defecography

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Abdominal Imaging

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Abstract

Defecography is a dynamic examination which provides a detailed functional anatomical view of the pelvis. This examination is usually performed in the upright position with lateral fluoroscopy while the patient evacuates the rectum. It is used to assess pelvic floor disorders, an underdiagnosed source of morbidity and diminished quality of life in women (Handa et al. 2008). Pelvic floor disorders are much less common in men. The age range of the female patients is mostly between 35 and 50 years. There is an apparent increase in the frequency of disorders associated with defecation. This is due to several factors: there are more patients seeking assistance; a greater number of physicians now have an interest in this area; and there is also more experience available in the therapeutic options. Symptoms in these patients range from an inability to defecate to total incontinence. Almost 24% of women in the United States of America report at least one pelvic disorder. This increases with age, parity, and obesity (Nygaard et al. 2008a; MacLennan et al. 2000). The demand for this test is expected to increase as the proportion of the elderly increases (Walters 2004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, McMaster University Medical Centre, 73 Rockcliffe Rd, Dundas, ON, Canada

    Dr. Sat Somers

  2. Department of Radiology, The Princess Grace Hospital, 42-52 Nottingham Place, London, UK

    Dr. Clive I. Bartram

Authors
  1. Dr. Sat Somers
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  2. Dr. Clive I. Bartram
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Correspondence to Sat Somers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Bernd Hamm

  2. Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Pablo R. Ros

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Somers, S., Bartram, C.I. (2013). Defecography. In: Hamm, B., Ros, P.R. (eds) Abdominal Imaging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13327-5_154

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13327-5_154

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-13326-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-13327-5

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