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Endoanal and Endorectal Ultrasonography: Methodology and Normal Pelvic Floor Anatomy

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Pelvic Floor Disorders

Abstract

High-resolution three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D-EAUS) clearly demonstrates the anatomy of the anal canal. All relevant structures, including the puborectalis muscle, the internal and external sphincter, the conjoined longitudinal layer, and the transverse perinei muscles, are visualized and any sphincter disruptions or defects can be detected. The asymmetrical shape of the anal canal and the gender differences in the ventral part of the external sphincter are also easily evaluated in the different reconstructed planes of the three-dimensional volume. High-resolution threedimensional endorectal ultrasound (3D-ERUS) provides an accurate visualization of the five-layer structure of the rectal wall and of the all pelvic organs adjacent to the rectum. The purpose of this chapter is to present the technique of 3D-EAUS and 3DERUS and to revise the ultrasonographic anatomy of the anorectal region.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pelvic Floor Unit and Colorectal Service, 1st Department of General Surgery, Regional Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Giulio Aniello Santoro MD

  2. 1st Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Giuseppe Di Falco MD

Authors
  1. Giulio Aniello Santoro MD
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  2. Giuseppe Di Falco MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pelvic Floor Unit and Colorectal Service 1st Department of General Surgery, Regional Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Giulio Aniello Santoro (Head) (Head)

  2. Department of Pediatric Radiology Children’s Teaching Hospital, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland

    Andrzej Paweł Wieczorek

  3. Diagnostic Imaging, Princess Grace Hospital, London, UK

    Clive I. Bartram

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Santoro, G.A., Di Falco, G. (2010). Endoanal and Endorectal Ultrasonography: Methodology and Normal Pelvic Floor Anatomy. In: Santoro, G.A., Wieczorek, A.P., Bartram, C.I. (eds) Pelvic Floor Disorders. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1542-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1542-5_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-1541-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-1542-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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