Practical Imaging of Acute Pelvic Pain in Premenopausal Women

Abstract

Acute pelvic pain in women of reproductive age is a common presenting complaint that may result from a broad variety of causes. Because these causes can be gynecologic or non-gynecologic in origin, they challenge the diagnostic acumen of physicians, including radiologists. A thorough work-up should include clinical history, physical examination, laboratory data, and appropriate imaging studies, all of which should be available to the radiologist for evaluation. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality in women with acute pelvic pain because of its high sensitivity, low cost, wide availability, and lack of ionizing radiation.1