Imaging of acute pelvic pain

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Gynecology

Background:

• Acute pelvic pain (APP) necessitates prompt medical attention.
• The differential diagnosis for APP is extensive, encompassing gynecologic and non-gynecologic conditions.
• Pelvic anatomy and symptom overlap complicate APP diagnosis, particularly in emergency settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of imaging in diagnosing acute pelvic pain.
• To discuss the challenges in differentiating causes of APP.
• To outline appropriate imaging strategies for APP.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging modalities used for APP evaluation.
• Emphasis on ultrasonography as a first-line tool.
• Discussion of CT and MRI applications in specific APP cases.

Main Results:

• Imaging is essential for rapid and precise APP diagnosis.
• Ultrasonography is the primary imaging modality.
• CT and MRI are valuable adjuncts, with MRI used in specific scenarios.

Conclusions:

• Accurate APP diagnosis requires familiarity with diverse etiologies and their imaging features.
• Radiologists must integrate clinical and laboratory findings with imaging.
• Tailored imaging strategies are key to fast and accurate APP diagnosis.