Changes in DKI parameters in stress urinary incontinence patients: a case control study

Motivation: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) often lacks visible muscle abnormalities on standard imaging, complicating diagnosis. Goal(s): To evaluate microstructural changes in the pubovisceral muscle of SUI patients using advanced diffusion imaging techniques. Approach: A case-control study was conducted with 60 SUI patients and 53 healthy controls. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) were used to analyze fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (Da), and kurtosis (Ka) parameters. Results: SUI patients showed significantly lower FA and Da values, along with higher Ka values, indicating disrupted muscle integrity and increased tissue complexity. Impact: Diffusion MRI-derived parameters enable the early detection of subtle muscle changes in SUI patients, supporting advanced diagnostic tools for identifying microstructural disruptions. These findings promote the use of diffusion imaging for accurate SUI assessment and treatment planning.