CT and MR Imaging of Gynecologic Emergencies

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-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. The imaging findings are important when evaluating acute gynecologic diseases 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 CT and MR imaging features of gynecologic emergencies. With respect to rare conditions, radiologists should take into account the representative findings presented in this article to increase diagnostic accuracy.