Porru Daniele1, Regina Cesare2, Oworae Howardson Bright2, Fiorello Nicolo2, Gardella Barbara3, Manzoni Federica4, Klersy Catherine4, Sala Maria Gabriella5, La Fianza Alfredo5, Ballerini Daniela5, Preda Lorenzo5, Simeone Claudio6, Spinillo Arsenio3, Jallous Hussein2. 1. Urology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: danieleporru@tin.it. 2. Urology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. 3. Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. 4. Servizio di Epidemiologia Clinica e Biometria, Direzione Scientifica, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. 5. Radiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. 6. Urology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Science, and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Abstract
Some recent studies evaluated the introduction of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in the diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether DW-MRI can contribute to noninvasive diagnosis of BPS/IC. The agreement between two raters (2 radiologists involved in the study) was also evaluated, the relevance of the "operator-dependent" factor defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two female patients with a diagnosis of BPS-IC were recruited and performed DW-MRI. The same investigation was also performed in 20 patients with pelvic gynecological diseases and no BPS-IC. RESULTS: A significant difference was found between BPS-IC and no-BPS-IC since 17 out of 22 subjects of the first group were positive, compared to 3 out of 20 no-IC subjects, with a P value of .001 to highlight the statistical significance. The sensitivity of the exam was 77%, while the specificity was 85%. There was good agreement between the 2 raters in the evaluation of MRI results. CONCLUSION: DW-MRI helps to obtain a noninvasive diagnosis of BPS/IC, by providing useful information on the choice of which patients may be more appropriately submitted to cystoscopy and bladder biopsy.
Some recent studies evaluated the introduction of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in the diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether DW-MRI can contribute to noninvasive diagnosis of BPS/IC. The agreement between two raters (2 radiologists involved in the study) was also evaluated, the relevance of the "operator-dependent" factor defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two female patients with a diagnosis of BPS-IC were recruited and performed DW-MRI. The same investigation was also performed in 20 patients with pelvic gynecological diseases and no BPS-IC. RESULTS: A significant difference was found between BPS-IC and no-BPS-IC since 17 out of 22 subjects of the first group were positive, compared to 3 out of 20 no-IC subjects, with a P value of .001 to highlight the statistical significance. The sensitivity of the exam was 77%, while the specificity was 85%. There was good agreement between the 2 raters in the evaluation of MRI results. CONCLUSION: DW-MRI helps to obtain a noninvasive diagnosis of BPS/IC, by providing useful information on the choice of which patients may be more appropriately submitted to cystoscopy and bladder biopsy.