Dados do Trabalho

Título

Important considerations in the assessment of gynecological emergencies.

Introdução

Gynecologic emergencies include various diseases and may be classified into the following four categories: (a) uterine disorders - acute fibroid complications (red degeneration of a uterine leiomyoma, torsion of subserosal myomas), and causes of acute uterine bleeding; (b) postoperative complications - vesicovaginal fistula due to gynecological procedures or radiotherapy; (c) tube-ovarian disorders - hemorrhagic ovarian cysts, adnexal torsion, tubo-ovarian abscesses and hematosalpinx; and (d) obstetric complications – ectopic pregnancy, retained products of conception (RPOC), uterine rupture and subchorionic hemorrhage.
Some gynecologic diseases are self-limited, while others cause infertility or life-threatening infection or bleeding if left untreated. Therefore, prompt and accurate diagnosis is important for appropriate life-saving treatment and for the preservation of fertility.

Descrição

The imaging features are important because the symptoms and physical examination findings are often nonspecific and limited. Ultrasonography is the first-line imaging modality; however, when a definitive diagnosis cannot be established, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may narrow the differential diagnosis.
Appropriate management requires radiologists to be familiar with the US, CT and MR imaging features of gynecologic emergencies.
Teaching points
• Review clinical presentation of acute gynecologic conditions.
• Understanding characteristic imaging findings of gynecologic emergencies that enable a proper diagnosis and early treatment.
• Discuss different radiological findings, differential diagnoses, radiologic look- alikes, and the appropriate management of acute gynecologic diseases.

Palavras Chave

Pelvic inflammatory disease; Ectopic pregnancy; Uterine fibroids; Ovarian torsion; Vesicovaginal fistula.