CASE 3167 Published on 21.04.2005

Descending perineum syndrome

Section

Abdominal imaging

Case Type

Clinical Cases

Authors

Belo-Oliveira Pedro, Rodrigues Henrique, Belo-Soares Pedro, Ilharco José

Patient

55 years, female

Categories
No Area of Interest ; Imaging Technique Digital radiography
Clinical History
A 55-year-old female presented with symptoms of obstructed defecation.
Imaging Findings
A 55-year-old female presented with symptoms of obstructed defecation. The defecography done showed an abnormal perineal descent during straining (more than 3.5cm).
Discussion
An abnormal perineal descent is present when the anorectal junction is 8 cm or more below the pubococcygeal line (line drawn from the anterosuperior aspect of the pubis to the coccyx) at rest or when the difference between the anorectal position at rest and during straining is more than 3.5 cm. In the descending perineum syndrome, the muscle tone of the pelvic floor is diminished and obstructive constipation and sometimes tenesmus are present. The syndrome of the descending perineum was first observed by Porter in 1962 and subsequently recognised as a definite entity by Parks and colleagues in 1966. Excessive perineum descent is a physical sign indicative of pelvic floor weakness. Patients with an abnormally increased perineum descent may present with rectal prolapse, partial or major incontinence, obstructed defecation, solitary rectal ulcer syndrome or vague symptoms of incomplete evacuation or rectal pain. Abnormally increased perineum descent, both at rest and during evacuation, is found in approximately 75% of patients with faecal incontinence as well as in patients who usually strain when passing stool but have no significant incontinence.
Differential Diagnosis List
Descending perineum syndrome.
Final Diagnosis
Descending perineum syndrome.
Case information
URL: https://www.eurorad.org/case/3167
DOI: 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.3167
ISSN: 1563-4086