It can also be employed for imaging of suspected bladder or urethral fistula, urethral diverticulum, or bladder prolapse. MRI Abdomen and Pelvis Both MRI of the abdomen and pelvis and MRU can be used to evaluate the urinary tract and have the advantage to provide more functional information than CT. MRI has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of UTI and acute pyelonephritis [27,35,36]. MRI is effective at diagnosing pelvic-organ prolapse. The resultant cystoceles and urinary incontinence associated with pelvic-organ prolapse are significant risk factors for recurrent UTIs in postmenopausal women [13,37,38]. MRI is the optimum imaging modality for assessment of the structure and complexity of urethral diverticula, allowing for accurate diagnosis and improved surgical planning [39]. Given the excellent soft-tissue contrast on MRI, this modality is equally sensitive to CT for evaluating vesicovaginal and enterovesicular fistulae [40,41]. In at least one study, MRI altered the surgical management in 15% of patients [39]. A history of recurrent UTI is seen in 30% to 50% of patients with urethral diverticula. Diverticula of the urethra can be evaluated with high sensitivity and specificity by double-balloon urethrography, voiding CT urethrography, and MRI [42-44]. MRI best assesses the structure and complexity of urethral diverticula, allowing for accurate diagnosis and improved surgical planning. Patients with suspected bladder diverticula may be imaged with cystography, US, or CT [45]. Bladder diverticula are unusual in women and are associated with a neurogenic or postoperative bladder; they are rarely congenital. MRI has also been shown to be accurate in the diagnosis of colovesical fistula. The multiplanar imaging capability and high soft-tissue resolution inherent to MRI also makes this modality suitable for imaging suspected fistulae, particularly when repeat imaging is an issue [40,41].
Recurrent Lower Urinary Tract Infections in Females. It can also be employed for imaging of suspected bladder or urethral fistula, urethral diverticulum, or bladder prolapse. MRI Abdomen and Pelvis Both MRI of the abdomen and pelvis and MRU can be used to evaluate the urinary tract and have the advantage to provide more functional information than CT. MRI has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of UTI and acute pyelonephritis [27,35,36]. MRI is effective at diagnosing pelvic-organ prolapse. The resultant cystoceles and urinary incontinence associated with pelvic-organ prolapse are significant risk factors for recurrent UTIs in postmenopausal women [13,37,38]. MRI is the optimum imaging modality for assessment of the structure and complexity of urethral diverticula, allowing for accurate diagnosis and improved surgical planning [39]. Given the excellent soft-tissue contrast on MRI, this modality is equally sensitive to CT for evaluating vesicovaginal and enterovesicular fistulae [40,41]. In at least one study, MRI altered the surgical management in 15% of patients [39]. A history of recurrent UTI is seen in 30% to 50% of patients with urethral diverticula. Diverticula of the urethra can be evaluated with high sensitivity and specificity by double-balloon urethrography, voiding CT urethrography, and MRI [42-44]. MRI best assesses the structure and complexity of urethral diverticula, allowing for accurate diagnosis and improved surgical planning. Patients with suspected bladder diverticula may be imaged with cystography, US, or CT [45]. Bladder diverticula are unusual in women and are associated with a neurogenic or postoperative bladder; they are rarely congenital. MRI has also been shown to be accurate in the diagnosis of colovesical fistula. The multiplanar imaging capability and high soft-tissue resolution inherent to MRI also makes this modality suitable for imaging suspected fistulae, particularly when repeat imaging is an issue [40,41].