Imaging of Fistula in Ano1 STATE of the ART Ⅲ
Imaging of Fistula in Ano1 STATE OF THE ART Ⅲ Steve Halligan, MD, FRCP, FRCR Fistula in ano is a common condition that often recurs Jaap Stoker, MD, PhD despite seemingly adequate surgery, usually because of infection that was missed at surgery. It is now increasingly recognized that preoperative imaging can help identify REVIEWS AND COMMENTARY infection that would have otherwise gone unidentified. In particular, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings have been shown to influence surgery and markedly dimin- ish the chance of recurrence; thus, preoperative imaging will become increasingly routine in the future. In this arti- cle, the authors describe the pathogenesis, classification, and imaging of fistula in ano, with an emphasis on MR imaging. Most important, the authors describe how the radiologist is well placed to answer the surgical riddles that must be solved for treatment to be effective. RSNA, 2006 1 From the Department of Specialist Radiology, University College Hospital, Level 2, Podium, 235 Euston Rd, Lon- don NW1 2BU, England (S.H.), and Department of Radiol- ogy, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Nether- lands (J.S.). Received June 11, 2004; revision requested August 24; revision received October 15; accepted Janu- ary 10, 2005; final version accepted March 2; updated September 29. Address correspondence to S.H. RSNA, 2006 18 Radiology: Volume 239: Number 1—April 2006 STATE OF THE ART: IMAGING OF FISTULA IN ANO Halligan and Stoker istula in ano (anal fistula) is a com- der surrounded by two muscular crypts that lie proximal to the valves. mon condition that has a tendency sphincters, the internal and external These glands were first linked to the Fto recur despite seemingly ade- anal sphincters, which are composed of genesis of fistula in ano by Chiari (3), quate surgery.
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