Adnexal mass with pelvic pain

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Acute pelvic pain and adnexal masses in pregnant women often prompt consideration of pregnancy-related causes like ectopic pregnancy or ovarian torsion.
• However, a diverse range of other benign and urgent gynecologic conditions can present similarly during pregnancy.
• Clinical signs and physical examination findings can be atypical or masked during pregnancy, complicating diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the differential diagnoses for pelvic pain and adnexal masses in pregnant patients.
• To emphasize the challenges in clinical diagnosis during pregnancy.
• To underscore the utility of ultrasound (US) in evaluating these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical presentations and diagnostic challenges in pregnant patients with pelvic pain and adnexal masses.
• Emphasis on the role and safety of ultrasound (US) examination in this population.
• Discussion of sonographic characterization for differential diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Pregnancy-related etiologies are common but not exclusive; other gynecologic pathologies must be considered.
• Clinical presentation can be misleading due to physiological changes in pregnancy.
• Ultrasound (US) is a safe and effective modality for characterizing adnexal masses and guiding management.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of adnexal masses in pregnant patients is crucial for appropriate management.
• Ultrasound (US) plays a pivotal role in differentiating between various causes of pelvic pain and adnexal masses.
• Timely sonographic evaluation facilitates prompt and effective treatment, improving patient outcomes.