Rectal prolapse and urinary retention: A case report of an “anal cystocele”

• Published in: Case reports in women's health Vol. 21; p. e00100
• Main Authors: Florian-Rodriguez, Maria E., Mehta, Kinjal, Khatri, Gaurav, Schaffer, Joseph I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-01-2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cystocele; Rectal prolapse; Urinary retention; Rectal prolapse; Cystocele; Urinary retention
• ISSN: 2214-9112; 2214-9112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crwh.2019.e00100

Concomitant rectal and vaginal prolapse is diagnosed in 14–55% of patients who present for pelvic floor evaluation.
Case: A patient was referred for pelvic floor evaluation in the setting of rectal prolapse and urinary retention. Preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed the presence of a posterior cystocele prolapsing through the full-thickness rectal prolapse.
Rectal prolapse with concomitant urinary retention should raise suspicion for posterior bladder prolapse. Here we propose the new term “anal cystocele”. MR imaging aids in the diagnosis and treatment planning for this condition.
•Atypical symptoms, such as urinary retention, in the setting of rectal prolapse always warrants further evaluation.•Evaluation of patients with multiple prior pelvic floor surgeries and recurrent prolapse should include imaging.•MR defecography is the imaging modality of choice when evaluating patients with complex pelvic floor disorders.