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Ultrasonography

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Pelvic Floor Disorders

Abstract

The complex anatomy and function of the pelvic floor is not yet fully understood. Understanding how muscles, nerves, ligaments, and fasciae interact and relate to pelvic organs is fundamental to establish what disease processes are involved in urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunctions. In the last two decades, growing attention has been paid to both increasing understanding of pelvic floor anatomy and improving technologies for diagnosis. Transperineal ultrasonography (TPUS) has become a valuable tool in the diagnostic workup of patients with urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunctions. The advent of high-resolution three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasonography (3D-EVUS) promises to further improve the imaging of pelvic floor anatomy; however, at present, the absence of standardization of the procedure limits its usefulness. The lack of uniformity frequently leads to confusion in the assessment of an image by the interpreting ultrasonographer. The equipment used, patient position, technique of examination, and manner of performing measurements may differ from one examiner to another and may influence the correct identification of pelvic floor structures. The aim of this chapter is to review basic information about techniques, equipment advantages, limitations, clinical usefulness, and the literature concerning ultrasound assessment in the diagnostics and monitoring of treatment of urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunctions with reference to two-dimensional (2D) and 3D-TPUS techniques, as well as 2D and 3D-EVUS.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Andrzej Paweł Wieczorek MD, Magdalena Maria Woźniak MD & Aleksandra Stankiewicz MD

Authors
  1. Andrzej Paweł Wieczorek MD
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  2. Magdalena Maria Woźniak MD
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  3. Aleksandra Stankiewicz 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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© 2010 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Wieczorek, A.P., Woźniak, M.M., Stankiewicz, A. (2010). Ultrasonography. 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_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1542-5_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-1541-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-1542-5

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