Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Defecograms
Daniel Buckland PhD, Harvard Medical School Year III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
February 2012
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Outline
• Patient Presentation
• Menu of Tests
• Anatomy
• Defecogram (Overview, Patient Prep, Procedure)
• Reading a Defecogram
• Normal Defecogram Video
• Defecogram with Rectocele
• Our Patient..Sigmoidocele
• Differential Diagnoses
• Drawbacks with Defecography
• Other Findings with Defecography
• MR Defecography
• Our Patient..Outcome
• Summary
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Index Case..Radiology Requisition
• F w/history of Prader-Willi* and rectal
prolapse.
• s/p rectoplexy ~1mo
• Please eval for persistent rectal or pelvic
floor prolapse
*Prader-Willi associated with obesity, reduced muscle tone, lower IQ,
hypogonadism
3
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Menu of Tests
• Structure Information
– Double Contrast
Barium Enema
– Endocavitary US
– CT
• Function Information
– Fluoroscopic
defecography
– Anal manometry
– Electromyography
– MR defecography
4
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Anatomy
Schematic representation
of the puborectal sling,
rectal bulb (RB), pubo-
rectal muscle (PRM),
and anal canal (AC).
-Women have an anterior
vaginal vault not shown
in image
5
Image from Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216.
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Defecogram Overview
• Preferred Study for:
– Intussusception
– Prolapse
– Rectocele
• Enteroceles
• Sigmoidoceles
– Descending perineum
syndrome
– Dyskinetic puborectalis
muscle syndrome
• Indications
– Constipation
• Need for vaginal
splinting
– Incomplete evacuation
– Incontinence
• With or without rectal
bleeding
– Mucous discharge
– Perineal pain or
discomfort
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Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Defecogram Patient Preparation
• Night Before
– Bowel Prep
• Prior to Imaging
– Oral Barium
– Patient Counseling
• Patient Placed in Left
Lateral Decubitus
– Barium paste injected
into rectum (also
vagina if female)
7
Image from Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216.
Syringe filled with barium paste attached to
rectal probe
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Defecogram Procedure
• Patient placed upright
on radio-transparent
commode
• Told to evacuate
bowels
• Fluoroscopic images
taken of evacuation
8
Image from Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216.
Commode in front of fluoroscopy sensor for
defecographic imaging
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Reading a Defecogram
• Quality Control
• Static
– Anal Canal
– Vaginal Vault
– Sigmoid Colon
• Dynamic
– Compare pre-, peri-,
and post-evacuation
– Motion of structures
• Physiologic motion
– Complete evacuation
of paste
– Appropriate timing of
contraction
• Abnormal motion
– Rectocele,
sigmoidocele,
enterocele
– Mechanical
obstruction
– Dysmotility
– Intusseseption
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Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Normal Defecogram Video
• Can show entire
straining sequence
• Used to diagnose
functional defects
10
Companion Patient 1 Fluoroscopic Image
Sequence
From BIDMC, PACS
Play Cine
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Defecogram with Rectocele
• Sigmoid Colon (SC)
• Anal Canal (AC)
• Vaginal Vault (V)
• Rectocele (R)
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SC
AC
V
R
From BIDMC, PACS
Companion Patient 2
Spot film taken during fluoroscopic evaluation
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient..Sigmoidocele
• Sigmoid Colon (SC)
• Anal Canal (AC)
• Site of rectoplexy (RP)
Large sigmoidocele, and probable
enterocele, with marked descent
of opacified sigmoid colon
anterior to the rectum to the level
of the perineum.
Lack of contrast in rectum probably
due to reported incontinence
Lack of contrast in vaginal vault due
to sigmoidocele
12
SC
AC
From BIDMC, PACS
RP
Index Patient
Spot film taken during fluoroscopic
evaluation
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Differential Diagnoses
• Marked descent of
sigmoid
– Failure of
sigmoidoplexy
– Redundant sigmoid
colon
• Lack of contrast in
bowel
– Incontinence
– Pelvic floor weakness
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Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Drawbacks with Defecography
Contraindications
• Patient non-compliance
– Weakness
– Balance
• Non-communicating rectum
• Suspected perforation
– Can attempt thickened
gastrografin
Limitations
• Fluoroscopy
– Low resolution
– Only single plane
– Ionizing Radiation
14
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Intussusception
• Anal Canal (AC)
• Site of Intussusception
(Arrows)
15
AC
Images from Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216. and
Ott, D. J., D. L. Donati, et al. (1994). "Defecography: results in 55 patients and impact on clinical management." Abdom Imaging 19(4): 349-354.
AC
Companion Patient 4
Companion Patient 3
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Descending Perineum Syndrome
16
Descent of the anorectal junction (asterisk) between resting position (a) and during
evacuation (b). Bis-ischiatic line (BIL) is considered as the reference level. A large
rectocele is also evident (arrowheads). This is two spot films taken during the same
fluoroscopic evaluation
Image from Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216.
Companion Patient 5
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Dyskinetic puborectalis muscle
17
The arrow indicates an abnormally deep puborectal impression at the beginning of the
evacuation phase. The anal canal is opening (arrowheads) and a small rectocele appears
(asterisk).
Image from Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216.
Companion Patient 6
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
MR Defecography showing Intussusception
• Higher Cost
• Technically more complex
– Requires Open MR
• More comfortable for
patient
– No enema or vaginal
contrast
• Circumferential mural
intussusception
(arrowheads) that extends
into the rectal ampulla. An
anterior rectocele is also
evident (arrow)
18 Image from Roos, J. E., D. Weishaupt, et al. (2002). "Experience of 4 years with open MR defecography: pictorial review
of anorectal anatomy and disease." Radiographics 22(4): 817-832.
Companion Patient 7 Sagittal MRI
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient…Outcome
• Follow-up with PCP for potential surgical
revision of sacroplexy if symptoms
continue.
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Summary
• Defecograpy is used for functional imaging of the
muscles and tubular structures used in defecation
• It can diagnose anatomic and functional defects.
• The most common modality is fluoroscopy, but
MRI can be used as well.
• Physicians ordering defecograms should prepare
patients to go through an experience that may
violate their social taboos.
Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
References
• Bassotti, G. and V. Villanacci (2011). "A practical approach to
diagnosis and management of functional constipation in adults."
Intern Emerg Med.
• Faccioli, N., A. Comai, et al. (2010). "Defecography: a practical
approach." Diagn Interv Radiol 16(3): 209-216.
• Ott, D. J., D. L. Donati, et al. (1994). "Defecography: results in
55 patients and impact on clinical management." Abdom
Imaging 19(4): 349-354.
• Roos, J. E., D. Weishaupt, et al. (2002). "Experience of 4 years
with open MR defecography: pictorial review of anorectal
anatomy and disease." Radiographics 22(4): 817-832.
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Daniel Buckland PhD HMS III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Acknowledgements
• Michael Acord MD
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