Role of three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound in assessing the anal sphincter morphology of female patients with chronic proctalgia

Table 1 Rome III diagnostic criteria for chronic proctalgia[3]

1 Presence of all of the following for at least 6 mo: (1) chronic or recurrent rectal pain or aching; (2) duration of episode: at least 20 minutes; and (3) exclusion of other causes of rectal pain (such as ischemia, abscess, fissure, coccygodynia and hemorrhoids)

1.1 Levator ani syndrome: meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic proctalgia, and tenderness on posterior traction on puborectalis

1.2 Unspecified functional anorectal pain: meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic proctalgia, and no tenderness on posterior traction on puborectalis

Table 2 Three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound parameters in the chronic proctalgia and normal groups

Parameter	CP in mm	Control in mm	P value
IAS length	26.28 ± 3.59	28.87 ± 4.84	< 0.05
IAS thickness	1.76 ± 0.43	1.63 ± 0.38	NS
EAS + PR length	30.71 ± 4.48	31.40 ± 4.43	NS
PR thickness	9.67 ± 1.57	8.85 ± 0.97	< 0.05

Data are presented as mean ± SD. CP: Chronic proctalgia; IAS: Internal anal sphincter; EAS: External anal sphincter; PR: Puborectalis muscle.