Cystocele

Last revised by Mohammad Taghi Niknejad ◉ on 10 Mar 2025

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Weerakkody Y, Walizai T, Elfeky M, et al. Cystocele. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 26 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-61587

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-61587

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/61587?embed_domain=staging.radpair.com

rID:

61587

Article created:

9 Jul 2018, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Last revised:

10 Mar 2025, Mohammad Taghi Niknejad ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mohammad Taghi Niknejad had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Mohammad Taghi Niknejad's current disclosures

Revisions:

13 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Urogenital

Synonyms:

Cystocoeles
Cystoceles
Urinary bladder prolapse
Cystocoele
Prolapsed urinary bladder
Bladder prolapse

A cystocele, also known as a prolapsed bladder, is a form of pelvic organ prolapse where the bladder descends inferiorly and posteriorly into the vagina and perineum. It may be accompanied by prolapse of other pelvic organs.

Sagittal images are particularly useful where the inferior margin of the bladder is often at a lower position than the pubococcygeal line ¹. Imaging during strain is suggested to improve detection ³. Additional features that may be detected during dynamic pelvic floor MRI are changes in the urethral angle and involuntary loss of urine into the urethra during defecation.

Fluoroscopic cystocolpoproctography

Instillation of bladder contrast prior to a fluoroscopic pelvic floor study allows evaluation of bladder descent during evacuation.

Treatment and prognosis

A cystocele alone can be treated with a retropubic (Burch) colposuspension, which comprises the suspension of the lateral aspects of the bladder from the pelvic sidewalls. Once the fascia is detached from the tendinous arch, a paravaginal fascial repair is added ³.