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MRI suggests increased tonicity of the levator ani in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

In interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), pelvic floor dysfunction may contribute significantly to pelvic pain. To determine if pelvic floor hypertonicity manifests alterations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with IC/BPS, we retrospectively compared pelvic measurements between patients and controls.

Methods

Fifteen women with IC/BPS and 15 age-matched controls underwent pelvic MRI. Two blinded radiologists measured the pelvic musculature, including the H- and M lines, vaginal length, urethral length and cross-sectional area, levator width and length, and posterior puborectalis angle. MRI measures and clinical factors, such as age, parity, and duration of symptoms, were compared using a paired, two-tailed t test.

Results

There were no significant differences in age, parity, or symptom duration between groups. Patients with IC/BPS exhibited shorter levator muscles (right: 5.0 ± 0.7 vs. 5.6 ± 0.8, left: 5.0 ± 0.8 vs. 5.7 ± 0.8 cm, P < 0.002) and a wider posterior puborectalis angle (35.0 ± 8.6 vs. 26.7 ± 7.9°, P < 0.01) compared with controls. The H line was shorter in patients with IC/BPS (7.8 ± 0.8 vs. 8.6 ± 0.9 cm, P < 0.02), while M line did not differ. Total urethral length was similar, but vaginal cuff and bladder neck distances to the H line were longer in patients with IC/BPS (5.7 ± 0.6 vs. 5.1 ± 0.9 cm, P < 0.02; 1.9 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 cm, P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with IC/BPS have pelvic floor hypertonicity on MRI, which manifests as shortened levator, increased posterior puborectalis angles, and decreased puborectal distances. We identified evidence of pelvic floor hypertonicity in patients with IC/BPS, which may contribute to or amplify pelvic pain. Future studies are necessary to determine the MRI utility in understanding pelvic floor hypertonicity in patients with IC/BPS.

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Abbreviations

AP:

Anteroposterior

BMI:

Body mass index

CCC:

Concordance class correlation

IC/BPS:

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristic

SCAT:

Subcutaneous adipose tissue

UPRL:

Urethral meatus to the puborectal line

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    A. Lenore Ackerman

  2. Section of Urology and Renal Transplantation, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Una J. Lee

  3. Department of Urology, San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA

    Forrest C. Jellison

  4. Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Nelly Tan, Maitraya Patel & Steven S. Raman

  5. Departments of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Larissa V. Rodriguez

  6. University of California, Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza, Suite 140, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    A. Lenore Ackerman

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  1. A. Lenore Ackerman
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  2. Una J. Lee
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Correspondence to A. Lenore Ackerman.

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Ackerman, A.L., Lee, U.J., Jellison, F.C. et al. MRI suggests increased tonicity of the levator ani in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Int Urogynecol J 27, 77–83 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-015-2794-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-015-2794-6

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