Diverting colostomy is an effective and reversible option for severe hemorrhagic radiation proctopathy

Table 3 Magnetic resonance imaging findings at post-colostomy and at reversal compared in 5 patients with chronic radiation proctopathy

Variable, mm	Pre-colostomy, mean ± SD	At reversal, mean ± SD	P value, paired t-test
Thickness of rectal wall	10.76 ± 4.29	8.91 ± 1.61	0.047
Width of presacral space	15.57 ± 8.86	15.84 ± 4.11	0.328
Thickness of left levator ani	2.81 ± 1.07	3.18 ± 1.39	0.341
Thickness of right levator ani	3.42 ± 1.26	3.45 ± 1.66	0.944
Thickness of left gluteus maximus muscle	31.36 ± 3.80	32.21 ± 9.0	0.769
Thickness of right gluteus maximus muscle	29.89 ± 4.19	32.15 ± 11.95	0.693
Thickness of left obturator internus	15.16 ± 1.97	17.89 ± 1.77	0.160
Thickness of right obturator internus	13.79 ± 4.90	14.36 ± 5.50	0.060
Thickness of distal part of sigmoid colon	4.50 ± 0.73	5.08 ± 1.17	0.503