Magnetic resonance imaging of the anal sphincter muscles in a joint Egyptian and international research

In joint Egyptian and international research, scientists succeeded for the first time in arriving at a precise method for the anal constrictor muscles, which contributed to arriving at a new explanation for many diseases such as chronic constipation and lack of bowel control.

The research was carried out in cooperation between the Egyptian side at Cairo University, headed by Professor Dr. Ali Shafik, Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Aini, the Italian side at the University of Rome, the Australian side at the University of Wales, and the Chinese side at Dalian University.

The researchers used advanced magnetic resonance imaging to image the pelvic area, rectum, and anus of sixty (60) middle-aged male and female volunteers during the control and defecation process. Then the images taken from the magnetic resonance device were analyzed and compared to each other and compared to the anatomical character of the recognized anal constrictor muscles and their method of operation. It has been shown that the anal constrictor muscles have a different anatomical characteristic and contract and relax in a different manner. This is considered the first time that the muscles during movement have been photographed in this manner and accuracy. This resulted in a change in pathological and therapeutic concepts and an explanation of the causes of inability to control, obstructed defecation and chronic constipation. This was published. Search in the American Colon and Anus Journal, which is one of the most prestigious scientific periodicals in the world specialized in the field of colon and anus, in the November 2010 issue.