The urogynecological side of pelvic floor MRI: the clinician’s needs and the radiologist’s role

In pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic floor supporting system from a functional point of view allows radiologists to recognize and classify the types of defects in each supporting structure (namely, the urethral supporting system, the vaginal supporting system, and the anal sphincter complex). Combined analysis of both the static and dynamic images of patients reporting stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse has revealed a close relationship between certain anatomical defects in the pelvic organ support system and specific PFD. Because of the consistency and reproducibility of this relationship, radiologists can accurately identify and report the underlying structural defects, allowing clinicians to individually tailor surgical techniques for each patient. This is important because even those patients presenting with the same clinical symptoms may have different underlying structural derangement or abnormalities that may warrant a different treatment plan or approach. In view of the reported high rate of dysfunction recurrence after surgical treatment and clinicians’ desire for a test that can pinpoint each patient’s structural and anatomical defects, this approach provides the necessary scientific evidence on which best clinical practice can be based, and the data-reporting system used for analysis provides a tool for accurately planning reconstructive surgery, reducing the risk of surgical failure, dysfunction recurrence, and reoperation. With the improved radiological evidence made possible by combined image analysis, clinicians can now have the documentation that they need to plan more effective procedures and thus produce better outcomes. This review focuses on the MRI anatomy of the pelvic floor from a functional point of view and from the urogynecological side of floor dysfunction (UI and POP), adopting a problem-oriented approach. The first section of this article provides the basic essential anatomical information about the pelvic floor and briefly reviews the pathophysiology and clinical features of SUI and POP. The second portion details the vital role of the radiologist in obtaining accurate images for the clinician to use in planning reconstructive surgery. In addition, it includes case examples, illustrating how to report MRI findings systematically and comprehensively on both the static and dynamic images, using a recently developed integrated MRI analytical approach from a purely functional point of view that may enhance radiologists’ interaction with clinicians and bridges the gap between radiology and surgery.