MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS OF PERIANAL FISTULAE AND ITS CORRELATION WITH DEMOGRAPHICS, CO-MORBITIES AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES IN A TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE IN MAHARASHTRA, INDIA :A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction:. Perianal stulas have been traditionally imaged by conventional stulogram, CT stulography and endoanal USG. The advantages of MR imaging include multiplanar imaging and a high degree of soft-tissue differentiation, which show the stulous track in relation to the underlying anatomy in a projection relevant to surgical exploration, thus providing an edge over previous diagnostic modalities To . Objectives: identify the stulous track in relation to sphincter complex. To classify the perianal stula according to St James's University Hospital Classication. To correlate imaging ndings with demographics, commorbities and surgical outcomes. Methodology: A cross sectional, observational study was conducted on 60 patients with clinically diagnosed perianal stulae using 1.5 Tesla HDxt MRI machine over a period of 18 months. Results MRI helped in the adequate grading of the perianal stula as per the St James University Hospital grading and further surgical follow up showed good association in grade III, IV and V perianal stula. MRI of the peri Conclusion: anal stula provided information about the primary stulous track and their different stulizing patterns, internal openings with great anatomic detail of the surrounding pelvic organs and the sphincter complex