From the Guidelines
An MRI pelvis includes imaging of the pelvic organs, pelvic bones, muscles of the pelvic floor, and surrounding structures, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the pelvic floor and its functions. The areas covered by an MRI pelvis include the bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs, as well as the pelvic bones, sacrum, coccyx, and lower lumbar vertebrae 1. This examination is particularly useful for evaluating conditions such as pelvic floor dysfunction, including prolapse, urinary incontinence, and defecatory dysfunction, as it allows for both anatomic and functional evaluation of the pelvic floor 1. Some of the key structures that can be visualized on an MRI pelvis include:
- Pelvic organs, such as the bladder, rectum, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in females, and prostate and seminal vesicles in males
- Pelvic bones, including the ilium, ischium, and pubis
- Muscles of the pelvic floor
- Major blood vessels, such as the iliac arteries and veins
- Lymph nodes in the region The use of dynamic maneuvers and contrast enhancement can provide additional information on the function and structure of the pelvic floor, although the use of contrast may be limited in certain cases 1. Overall, an MRI pelvis provides a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of the pelvic region, allowing clinicians to diagnose and plan treatment for a range of conditions affecting this area.
From the Research
MRI Pelvis Areas
The areas included in an MRI pelvis scan are:
- Uterus
- Ovary
- Prostate gland 2
- Cervix
- Vagina/Vulva
- Urethra
Specific Conditions and Structures
MRI pelvis can help diagnose and evaluate various conditions, including:
- Ovarian cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, corpus luteum, dermoid, fibroma/fibrothecoma 3
- Uterine conditions such as C-section scar, adenomyosis, endometriosis, fibroid, congenital uterine anomalies 3
- Cervical conditions like nabothian cyst, cervical cancer 3
- Vaginal and vulvar conditions such as Gardener's duct cyst, Bartholin's gland cyst 3
- Urethral conditions like skene gland cyst, urethral diverticulum 3
- Prostate conditions including utricle cyst, Mullerian duct cyst, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer 3
Pelvic Masses
MRI can also be used to detect and stage large pelvic masses, which can arise from various organs and tissues, including: