Measurement of detrusor wall thickness in women with overactive bladder by transvaginal and transabdominal sonography.

Introduction and hypothesis: Women with overactive bladder (OAB) might have a greater detrusor wall thickness (DWT) suggestive of detrusor overactivity (DO).

Methods: DWT was measured by transabdominal ultrasonography (TAU) and transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) in normal and women with OAB-dry and OAB-wet. The subjects were further classified as normal, hypersensitive bladder, or DO by urodynamic results. DWT measured by TVU at empty bladder, and TAU at 250 ml and bladder capacity were compared among symptom and urodynamic subgroups.

Results: TVU-measured DWT was significantly greater at the bladder neck than other sites of the bladder wall. No significant difference of TVU-measured DWT was noted among subgroups. No significant difference of TAU-measured DWT among subgroups at 250 ml, but DWT at bladder capacity was significantly greater in OAB-wet or DO than other subgroups.

Conclusions: A greater DWT at bladder capacity measured by TAU can be useful as biomarker for DO in patients with OAB.