ABSTRACT
In order to investigate the diagnostic reliability of transrectal US in the study of female urinary incontinence, the authors compared the static images obtained by means of colpocystourethrorectography with the ones obtained with transrectal US. The study population included 30 patients suffering from urinary incontinence. US images were obtained both at rest and during Valsalva's maneuver, some minutes before cystourethrography and employing part of its preparation (vesical filling with 250 cc of iodine contrast medium and positioning of a metallic bead chain in the urethra). On static images obtained with cystourethrography and transrectal US both at rest and during Valsalva, 4 parameters were evaluated: anterior and posterior vesical angles, urethral axis angle, and distance between symphysis pubis and urethral-vesical junction. As for posterior vesical angle, urethral axis angle, and symphysis-junction distance, the statistical comparison of the results did non demonstrate any significant differences. Anterior vesical angle was not included because it is too difficult to measure by transrectal US. In our experience, transrectal US was capable of yielding accurate information similar to that obtained with colpocystourethrorectography.
