A systematic approach to imaging the pelvis in amenorrhea

This is a pictorial review on the radiological approach to patients with amenorrhea using a level-based framework. The prevalence of amenorrhea is 3 to 4% with wide-ranging causes involving multiple clinical disciplines. Normal menstruation depends on complex coordinated hormonal functions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis exerting its effect on an intact uterine end-organ and outflow tract. A disruption of any of these factors may result in amenorrhea. Categorizing the causes of primary and secondary amenorrhea into uterine, ovarian/gonadal, and intracranial levels provides a logical framework for its evaluation. A systematic level-based approach by targeted ultrasound of the pelvic structures is suggested, with different aims in primary versus secondary amenorrhea. Pelvic sonographic findings of various conditions within the uterine and ovarian/gonadal levels are illustrated. Conditions due to an intracranial cause result in downstream effects on the uterus and ovaries and can often be suspected based on a combination of clinical assessment, ultrasound findings, and laboratory investigations. By correlating pelvic ultrasound findings with underlying pathology, the clinical radiologist is able to provide useful diagnostic information in the management of these patients.