Application of 3.0T MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Normal Female Pelvic Floor Muscles / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To explore the three-dimensional display and parameter features of 3.0T MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the imaging of normal female pelvic floor muscle fiber bundles, and to provide a reference standard for the application of DTI in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. Materials and Methods Fifty cases of females who had not given birth or had given birth by cesarean delivery were divided into four groups20 to 29 years (15 cases), 30 to 39 years (15 cases), 40 to 49 years (12 cases) and 50 to 54 years (8 cases). First, the conventional sagittal, axial, coronal T2WI and axial T1WI images were acquired with a 3.0T MRI scanner;then a dynamic sagittal fiesta sequence was executed to exclude pelvic organ prolapse; at last, the transverse two-dimensional diffusion-weighted spin echo-echo planar imaging (SE-EPI) pulse sequence was executed to acquire pelvic floor DTI data, through the post-processing of the data, normal female pelvic floor muscle fiber bundle images can be obtained and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and fractional anisotropy (FA) value were calculated. Results Content three-dimensional muscle fiber bundle images and corresponding ADC and FA values of the pubic visceral muscles in pelvic wall and obturator muscles in pelvic wall were acquired in all subjects;there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) for the ADC and FA values between the left and right side of the pubic visceral muscles and obturator muscles within the same age group;and the difference of ADC and FA values of pubic visceral muscles and obturator muscles among different age groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05), either. Conclusion 3.0T MR DTI fiber tracking imaging can be applied for the three-dimensional observation of the complicated muscle fiber bundle structures in female pelvic floor, through the measurement of ADC and FA value changes, functional abnormity can be suggested before the anatomy structure changes of the pelvic muscles occurs, thus provides an important new approach for further study of pelvic organ prolapse.