[Ultrasound for the diagnosis of female urinary incontinence].

OBJECTIVES

The value of ultrasonography for the study of female urinary incontinence has been redefined over the last years.

METHODS

We review the literature about the value of ultrasound in the workup of females with urinary incontinence, mainly transperineal ultrasound for the female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

RESULTS

Many papers have been published over the last few years. Upper urinary tract ultrasound has not a place in the workup of genuine female SUI. Transperineal ultrasound allows to evaluate the mobility of the bladder neck and urethra, the thickness of the bladder wall, the funnel shape of the bladder neck, the presence of SUI or pelvic organ prolapse (POP), to visualize mesh implants, to help with biofeedback, and to evaluate changes after surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasounds in general, and transperineal or translabial ultrasound in particular, are in the process of becoming the standard diagnostic method in urogynecology. Their wide availability, the standardization of parameters, the possibility of evaluating not only the bladder but also the levator ani muscle or pelvic organ prolapses (POP) contribute to this fact. It allows to obtain data in a non invasive way before and after therapy.