Preliminary investigation of paravaginal support structure in women by Hyaline imaging of three-dimensional pelvic floor sonography / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective We aim to evaluate and discuss the feasibility of Hyaline imaging of three-dimension sonography in observation of paravaginal support structure in normal nonporous women.Methods Total of 45 normal infertile women were chosen.Three-dimensional volume datasets were collected at rest by transperineal ultrasound.The three-dimensional Hyaline images were acquired off-line.We observed the morphologic features of paravaginal support structure on the axial plane in middle vagina and measured the anteroposterior and lateral horizontal distances between bilateral paravaginal support structure and ureter.The consistency between two sonographers were analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results In three-dimensional Hyaline imaging sonogram,paravaginal support structure was appeared as typically tenting-like shaped.The anteroposterior distances between paravaginal support structure and center of ureter were listed as followedleft (-0.31 ± 1.29) mm,right (0.47 ± O.99) mm.While the lateral horizontal distances were left (12.67 ± 6.70) mm,right (13.01 ± 5.75) mm.There were no statistical differences between bilateral both anteroposterior and lateral horizontal distances.The consistency between two sonographers for distinguishing paravaginal support structure on the middle-vaginal plane and measuring distances between paravaginal support structure and center of ureter was remarkably high (ICC is 0.87 and 0.82).Conclusions Hyaline imaging technology of three-dimensional pelvic floor sonography could be used to observe paravaginal support structure in women.The normal paravaginal support structure is typically showed as bilateral symmetrical tenting-like structure,which is on the same level as the center of ureter.It provides normal anatomic radiological evidence and helps study defect of paravaginal support structure caused by pregnancy or delivery.