CT and MR Imaging of Gynecologic Emergencies

Abstract

This article reviews the clinical and imaging features of acute gynecologic diseases and highlights the CT and MR imaging findings to help radiologists increase diagnostic accuracy. Gynecologic emergencies include various diseases that result from adnexal and uterine disorders. Adnexal disorders may be classified into the following three categories: (a) disorders that cause hemorrhage (hemorrhagic ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancies); (b) disorders related to adnexal tumors (adnexal torsion and rupture of ovarian tumors); and (c) disorders related to pelvic inflammatory disease, such as tubo-ovarian abscesses. Unusual adnexal torsion, such as massive ovarian edema, isolated fallopian tube torsion, and paraovarian cyst torsion, has also been described. Uterine disorders in gynecologic emergencies may be classified into two categories: (a) acute fibroid complications, including red degeneration of a uterine leiomyoma, torsion of subserosal myomas, and torsion of the uterus; and (b) causes of acute uterine bleeding, including retained products of conception and uterine arteriovenous malformations. Some gynecologic diseases are self-limited, while others cause infertility or life-threa...