Conditions our MRI scans have found

Nabothian cysts (also called mucinous retention cysts or epithelial inclusion cysts) are mucus collections that form a sac on the cervix. They can be caused by childbirth or minor physical trauma to the cervix. Nabothian cysts are benign (non-cancerous) and are usually asymptomatic (do not cause symptoms), but sometimes can be the cause of pain or a bothersome feeling of fullness in the vagina.

The cervical cavity (canal) connects the interior of the vagina with the uterus. Small amounts of fluid or mucus in the cervical cavity is a normal finding. No follow-up is indicated.

Sometimes the salts and minerals in the urine can crystalize and form bladder stones. Factors that increase the risk of developing bladder stones include inflammation of the bladder caused by infections, foreign material present within the bladder, kidney stones, and underlying conditions (e.g. prostate gland enlargement, neurogenic bladder) that affect the bladder's ability to hold, store or eliminate urine. Most bladder stones less than or equal to 5 mm in diameter pass out of the body spontaneously and asymptomatically (with no symptoms). If a bladder stone does get stuck or irritates the bladder wall, it can cause symptoms of lower abdominal pain, difficulty urinating or interrupted urine flow, bloody urine, and painful or frequent urination.

A bladder diverticulum forms when some of the bladder lining pokes through a weak part in the bladder wall. A bladder diverticulum can either be congenital (from birth) or acquired (present later in life).

Acquired bladder diverticula (when there is typically more than 1 diverticulum present) are most often caused by a blockage in the bladder outlet (such as from a swollen prostate or scars in the urethra [the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body]), the bladder not working well due to nerve injury or, rarely, from prior bladder surgery. Acquired diverticula are most often seen in older men, who tend to get bladder outlet blocks.

There are several possible causes of bladder wall calcification including cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), radiation to the area, schistosomiasis (a disease caused by parasitic worms that live in infested water located in tropical and subtropical regions), tuberculosis, and neoplasia (cancerous or non-cancerous growth). A diagnosis can usually be obtained from a combination of history, clinical examination, appropriate laboratory studies, and imaging of the bladder calcification and remaining urinary tract.

A collapsed, or incompletely distended bladder, indicates that at the time of MRI examination, the bladder was not full of urine. This finding does not indicate any underlying condition.