A novel technique for measuring bladder wall thickness in women using transvaginal ultrasound.

A new technique of measuring bladder wall thickness using transvaginal ultrasound is described. Measurement of the bladder wall using ultrasound was found to have a good intra- and interobserver reproducibility. Measurements of the bladder wall thickness were altered if more than 50 ml of fluid was within the bladder. Forty-five women with urinary symptoms were recruited from the urodynamic clinic; those with urodynamically diagnosed detrusor instability were found to have significantly thicker bladder walls than women with urodynamically diagnosed genuine stress incontinence. Application of this technique may be useful in the diagnosis of detrusor instability.