Korean J Urol.  1997 Sep;38(9):979-984.

Transrectal Ultrasonography in Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

• Lee JK
• Seong IG
• Han BH

Abstract

Radiologic chain cystourethrography for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has several disadvantages including the risk of excessive radiation, the time required for the test, and the discomfort of the patients. Nowadays it is widely accepted that transrectal ultrasonography for evaluating bladder and urethra provides similar information about SUI comparing with the conventional radiographic examination. We evaluated the effectiveness of transrectal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of SUI in 30 women with SUI and in normal 20 women as a control. The results of evaluation were as follows: 1. Mean age was 52.9 in SUI group and 48.5 in control group, and mean parity was 2.8 in SUI group and 3 In control group. 2. According to the symptom grading by Stamey, 8 patients (27%) were Grade I and 22 (73%) were Grade II. 3. The mean value of posterior urethrovesical angle (PUVA) at resting state was 139 +/- 14.7 degrees in control group and 145 +/- 15.2 degrees in SUI group (p>0.05). 4. The mean value of PUVA at strain state was 146 +/- 7.9 degrees in control group and 169 +/- 12.1 degrees in SUI group (p<0.05). 5, Bladder neck descent was 7.3 +/- 2.7 mm (mean+/-SD.) in control group and 13.7+/-6.2 mm in SUI group (p<0.05). 6. Diagnostic criteria of SUI in transrectal ultrasonography are more than 149.5 degrees in PUVA at strain state, and more than 9.1 millimeter in bladder neck descent. 7. Sensitivity and specificity of transrectal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of SUI were 86% and 80% in PUVA at strain state, 80% and 80% in bladder neck descent, respectively. 8. There was significant change of transrectal ultrasonographic finding in pre and post-bladder neck suspension (p<0.05). In conclusion, transrectal ultrasonography is simple, non-invasive, not shameful, and free of radiation, so might be a useful diagnostic method in female SUI.

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Female*
Humans
Neck
Parity
Sensitivity and Specificity
Shame
Ultrasonography*
Urethra
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Incontinence*