The Comparison of the Morphology of Bladder Neck in Continent and Incontinent Women with the use of a Novel 3D-Endovaginal Ultrasound

  • Dr Magdalena Wozniak, Radiology Department, Children's Hospital of Medical University of Lublin, Poland
  • Dr Aleksandra Stankiewicz, Radiology Department, Children's Hospital of Medical University of Lublin, Poland
  • Dr Michal Bogusiewicz, Second Department of Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
  • Prof Andrzej Weczorek, Radiology Department, Children's Hospital of Medical University of Lublin, Poland
  • Prof Tomasz Rechberger, Second Department of Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

    • Purpose: The aim of the study was comparison of the morphology of bladder neck (BN) in continent and incontinent women with the use of a novel 3D-endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS).
    Methods and Materials: Fifty one females mean age 47 years (range: 19-71) underwent 3D-EVUS. Twenty of them (39%) were continent, whilst 31 (61%) suffered from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The EVUS examinations were performed using an ultrasound scanner (Profocus, B-K Medical) with a 9-12MHz, rotational transducer with a built-in 3D automated acquisition system and perpendicular beam formation. The 3D acquisition allowed evaluation of entire urethra visualizing precisely details of its morphology. The assessment was performed on the stored data. Midsagittal plane of the urethral complex was obtained and the measurements of bladder neck thickness and detrusor muscle were taken.
    Results: Statistical analysis was presented by mean values and standard deviation (SD) , as well as Mann-Whitney test with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Mean value of BN thickness in the continent group was 2.77 mm +/- 0.39 and in SUI group it was 3.48 mm +/- 0.66. (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences were noticed in the detrusor muscle thickness between two groups of patients.
    Conclusion: In incontinent women bladder neck is statistically significantly thicker in comparison to continent women.