Imaging of the pelvic floor: The urological perspective

Background: Physiological pelvic floor function is essential for maintaining the appropriate storage and voiding function of the lower urinary tract. Disorders of pelvic floor function can consist of both hypofunction and hyperfunction and can result in urge symptoms, urinary incontinence, disorders of the micturition process, urinary retention, and chronic pelvic floor pain, as well as endangering the upper urinary tract. Thus, these disorders can be complex in their cause and effect. An exact diagnosis and initiation of a target-specific therapy of the respective functional disorder can only be achieved by the interaction of functional and imaging diagnostics. Objectives: The aim of this article is therefore to present these special imaging techniques from the perspective of functional urology and neuro-urology. Methods: This paper presents the available imaging techniques in the diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction and places them in the diagnostic context of lower urinary tract dysfunction.