Ultrasound of pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic sonography is commonly performed in patients with a clinical diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease. Though the study may be normal or sometimes non-specific, there are a variety of findings that are characteristic of this process. Understanding of the sonographic features of pelvic inflammation, salpingitis, pyosalpinx, tubo-ovarian complex and tubo-ovarian abscess will allow the interpreter to make more specific, clinically useful diagnoses. Sonography can also help to distinguish acute from chronic abnormalities in the fallopian tubes. Correlation of sonography with pelvic CT is important as CT is ordered with increasing frequency in patients with unexplained lower abdominal pain.