Multimodality imaging of acute gynecological emergencies-a pictorial essay

Abstract

Gynecological emergencies can often present with a myriad of non-specific signs and symptoms, posing a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. They can be grossly divided into uterine or adnexal pathologies. Uterine pathologies can be secondary to intracavitary accumulation of blood [like in patients with transverse vaginal septum, Robert's uterus, accessory and cavitated uterine mass, unicornuate uterus with contralateral non-communicating functional horn], bleeding per vaginum [like in patients with retained products of conception, enhanced myometrial vascularity], pyometra [secondary to pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical obstruction secondary to benign and malignant causes] or complications of fibroids [like red degeneration, torsion of subserosal fibroid]. The adnexal pathologies can range from ectopic pregnancy in a urine pregnancy test (UPT) positive patient to haemorrhagic ovarian cyst, ovarian torsion, ruptured dermoid cyst and tubo-ovarian abscess in a UPT negative patient. Multimodality imaging including ultrasound (USG), computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can narrow down the differentials and help in formulating an accurate diagnosis. The objective of this article is to familiarize the readers with multimodality imaging findings in common as well as uncommon acute gynecological emergencies and provide an algorithmic imaging approach for acute gynecological emergencies. USG is typically used as the first line diagnostic modality in diagnosis of acute gynecological emergencies. CT scan & MRI are helpful as a problem-solving tool in acute gynecological emergencies when USG findings are indeterminate.

Keywords: Bleeding PV; Ectopic pregnancy; Gynecological emergency; Ovarian torsion; Pelvic pain.