Meshy business: MRI and ultrasound evaluation of pelvic floor mesh and slings

Pelvic floor disorders are a complex set of conditions including but not limited to stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse that generally affect older and multiparous women. Of the several surgical options available for treatment of these conditions, synthetic mid-urethral slings for stress urinary incontinence and vaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse are amenable to imaging evaluation by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Ultrasound can evaluate the sub- and immediate peri-urethral portions of sling due to its ability to differentiate synthetic material from native tissues with real-time imaging, while MRI is able to better depict the global pelvic floor anatomy and assess the more distant components of mesh and slings material. Given the high prevalence of pelvic floor disorders and complications after surgical repair, it is important that radiologists familiarize themselves with normal and abnormal imaging findings after these procedures. This article provides a review of the spectrum of imaging findings in patients after pelvic floor repair with synthetic mid-urethral slings and vaginal mesh.

Automated summary

Pelvic floor disorders, including stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, commonly affect older and multiparous women. Surgical options such as synthetic mid-urethral slings and vaginal mesh can be evaluated using ultrasound and MRI techniques. Ultrasound is useful for assessing immediate peri-urethral portions of slings, while MRI provides a better visualization of overall pelvic floor anatomy and distant components of mesh and slings materials. Radiologists should be familiar with imaging findings post-surgical repair for pelvic floor disorders.