OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the endo-anal ultrasound (EAUS) versus endo-anal magnetic resonance imaging (EAMRI) in the diagnosis of external anal sphincter defects (EAS) in patients with faecal incontinence (FI). METHODS: Studies on EAUS and EAMRI were selected and analyzed to generate summative data. RESULTS: Five studies encompassing 347 patients of FI were included in this review. Three studies validated the results of EAUS and EAMRI by surgery (61 patients). In the fixed effect model, EAUS was superior to EAMRI in the depiction of EAS defects. On combined analysis of five studies using fixed effect model, both EAUS and EAMRI were equally effective. However, there was a significant heterogeneity between studies. CONCLUSION: EAUS and EAMRI are comparable in the diagnosis of EAS defects in patients of FI. Since EAUS is an economical, quicker and easily available imaging modality, it may be used a preferable investigation for the diagnosis of EAS defects in patients of FI.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the endo-anal ultrasound (EAUS) versus endo-anal magnetic resonance imaging (EAMRI) in the diagnosis of external anal sphincter defects (EAS) in patients with faecal incontinence (FI). METHODS: Studies on EAUS and EAMRI were selected and analyzed to generate summative data. RESULTS: Five studies encompassing 347 patients of FI were included in this review. Three studies validated the results of EAUS and EAMRI by surgery (61 patients). In the fixed effect model, EAUS was superior to EAMRI in the depiction of EAS defects. On combined analysis of five studies using fixed effect model, both EAUS and EAMRI were equally effective. However, there was a significant heterogeneity between studies. CONCLUSION: EAUS and EAMRI are comparable in the diagnosis of EAS defects in patients of FI. Since EAUS is an economical, quicker and easily available imaging modality, it may be used a preferable investigation for the diagnosis of EAS defects in patients of FI.
Authors: Christian Lottrup; Hans Gregersen; Donghua Liao; Lotte Fynne; Jens Brøndum Frøkjær; Klaus Krogh; Julie Regan; Peter Kunwald; Barry P McMahon Journal: J Gastroenterol Date: 2015-05-16 Impact factor: 7.527