Three-dimensional ultrasound appearance of pelvic floor in nulliparous women and pelvic organ prolapse women

Int J Med Sci. 2012;9(10):894-900. doi: 10.7150/ijms.4829. Epub 2012 Nov 9.

Abstract

The present study investigated the morphology and structure of pelvic floor in 50 nulliparous and 50 pelvic organ prolapse (POP) women using translabial three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. The levator hiatus in POP women was significantly different from that in nullipara women. In POP women, the size of pelvic floor increased, with a circular shape, and the axis of levator hiatus departed from the normal position in 36 (72%) cases. The puborectalis was avulsed in 18 (36%) cases and the pelvic organs arranged abnormally in 23 (46%) cases. In summary, 3D ultrasound is an effective tool to detect the pelvic floor in POP women who presented with abnormalities in the morphology and structure of pelvic floor.

Keywords: Levator hiatus; Pelvic floor; Pelvic organ prolapse.; Three-dimensional ultrasound.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Middle Aged
  • Parity*
  • Pelvic Floor / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pregnancy
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vagina / diagnostic imaging
  • Vagina / pathology