Relationship between Q-Tip Test and Urethral Hypermobility on Perineal Ultrasound

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the overall rest-stress distance measured by transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) and Q-tip test angle in women with urodynamic stress incontinence (USI), and determine a cut-off value of rest-stress distance for predicting urethral hypermobility (UH).

METHODS

Women with USI scheduled for mid-urethral sling surgery were retrospectively recruited. UH was defined as a Q-tip angle more than or equal to 30 degrees. Ultrasonic measurement of the overall rest-stress distance was defined as the linear distance of bladder-neck position change from resting status to maximal strain.

RESULTS

Among the 132 enrolled women, the Pearson correlation coefficient between the overall rest-stress distance in TPUS and Q-tip test angle was 0.9104 (95% CI, 0.8758-0.9357, p < 0.001). In receiver-operating-characteristic-curve analysis, a rest-stress distance of more than 13.3 mm was an optimal cut-off value to predict UH (sensitivity = 76.47%, specificity = 93.3%; area = 0.937, 95% confidence interval: 0.881-0.972).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall rest-stress distance in TPUS correlated well with the Q-tip test angle, indicating that it can be an alternative method for the assessment of USI. A rest-stress distance of more than 13.3 mm was an optimal cut-off value to predict UH in women with USI.

Urethral mobility and Point Aa of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system before and after midurethral sling operation

OBJECTIVE

 The aim of the present study was to verify the usefulness of Point Aa as a substitute marker of the Q-tip angle and urethral mobility before and after midurethral sling operation for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.

METHODS

 In this study, 118 women presenting with SUI who underwent the tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVTO) procedure were prospectively examined and followed-up for ≥6 months after operation. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the degree of correlation between Point Aa of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system and Q-tip angles before and after midurethral sling surgery.

RESULTS

 There were significant postoperative changes in Point Aa (from -0.4 ± 1.9 to -2.7 ± 0.6; P = .001) and Q-tip angle (from 58.7 ± 19.4 to 15.4 ± 17.5 degrees; P =.001) compared with preoperative values. A fair correlation between Point Aa position and straining Q-tip angle was found before (r = 0.45, P = .05) and after (r = 0.49, P = .04) the procedure, with no significant difference in values before and after the procedure (P = .62).

CONCLUSIONS

 The results of the present study show fair correlation between the Point Aa position and straining Q-tip angle before and after midurethral sling surgery. Point Aa could be used as an indicator of urethral mobility after the TVTO procedure in women with SUI.

Women without vulvodynia can have a positive 'Q-tip test': a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Vulvodynia is a frequently missed pathology, often confused with vaginismus. The Q-tip test (QTT) is fundamental for the diagnosis; however, there is lack of data about its performance in asymptomatic women.

OBJECTIVE

This study intended to evaluate the QTT for painful vestibular spots in asymptomatic women.

METHODS

Q-tips were gently pressed at different areas of the vulvar vestibule to obtain a 0-10 score representing the pain felt. This was performed in 267 consecutive patients presenting to the gynecology outpatient clinic for reasons other than vulvovaginal complaints. A questionnaire was done to evaluate the possibility of unrecognized vulvodynia.

RESULTS

Out of the 267 women, 18 (6.7%) fitted the diagnosis of vulvodynia and were excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining 249, 41 (16.5%) had a positive QTT. We could not find differences in the sexual activity rate between women with and without a positive QTT. No demographic differences could be found between the two groups. Only depression was more common in women with a positive QTT [31.7% (13/41) versus 10.8% (21/208), p=.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic women can have painful vestibular spots in the absence of vulvodynia. A positive QTT cannot be considered equivalent to vulvodynia, highlighting the need for extensive workup of these women before that diagnosis can be assumed.

Anterior compartment descent: A new measure in the assessment of urethral hypermobility in women with urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVES

To introduce a new, simple, non-invasive test to quantify urethral hypermobility.

METHODS

We reviewed data of women with urinary incontinence who were examined at the Department for General Gynaecology and Urogynaecology, Clinic for Gynaecology and Perinatology, Maribor, Slovenia, between October 2010 and March 2014. Patients' age, diagnosis, results of the Q-tip test and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification measurements were collected. In addition, a new parameter was defined as anterior compartment descent, a midline distance between the external urethral meatus and maximum descent of the anterior vaginal wall when performed the Valsalva maneuver. Statistical analysis was performed with spss software using the Mann-Whitney test, correlation, regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The analysis was also carried out separately for patients with anterior compartment prolapse stage 0 or I.

RESULTS

A total of 472 women were included, 323 of them with anterior compartment prolapse stage 0 or I. Women with urethral hypermobility had significantly higher anterior compartment descent values than patients without urethral hypermobility (3.7 cm vs 2.6 cm, P < 0.001). A moderate correlation was found between anterior compartment descent and the Q-tip test (Spearman's rho = 0.55, P < 0.001). Age and anterior compartment descent were identified as independent variables for the presence of urethral hypermobility. When the cut-off value is set at 3.5 cm, anterior compartment descent represents a test for urethral hypermobility assessment with sensitivity of 65.2%, specificity of 88.6%, positive predictive value of 97.0% and negative predictive value of 30.7%. Anterior compartment descent values were also significantly higher in patients with anterior compartment prolapse stage 0 or I (3.4 ± 0.7 cm vs 2.6 ± 0.7 cm, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The anterior compartment descent could be a valuable tool for the assessment of urethral hypermobility. Further effort should be directed into the standardization of the technique, determination of the normal range of anterior compartment descent, and its intra- and interobserver reliability.