Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc

The increasing use of imaging necessitates familiarity with a wide variety of pathologic conditions, both common and rare, that affect the fallopian tube. These conditions should be considered in the differential diagnosis for pelvic diseas…

Endometriosis is a common multifocal gynecologic disease that manifests during the reproductive years, often causing chronic pelvic pain and infertility. It may occur as invasive peritoneal fibrotic nodules and adhesions or as ovarian cysts…

Deep pelvic endometriosis is an important gynecologic disorder that is responsible for severe pelvic pain and is defined as subperitoneal invasion that exceeds 5 mm in depth. Deep pelvic endometriosis can affect the retrocervical region, ut…

Computed tomography (CT) is not generally advocated as the first-line imaging examination for disorders of the female pelvis. However, multidetector CT is often the modality of choice for evaluating nongynecologic pelvic abnormalities, part…

Cystic disease in the female pelvis is common. The majority of cystic pelvic masses originate in the ovary, and they can range from simple, functional cysts to malignant ovarian tumors. Mimics of ovarian cystic masses include peritoneal inc…

Deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is a common gynecologic disease that is characterized by a difficult and delayed diagnosis. Radiologic mapping of the DIE lesion sites is crucial for case management, patient counseling, and surgical …

Imaging plays a key role in the diagnostic evaluation of women for infertility. The pelvic causes of female infertility are varied and range from tubal and peritubal abnormalities to uterine, cervical, and ovarian disorders. In most cases, …

Hydrosalpinx is a common adnexal lesion that may occur either in isolation or as a component of a complex pathologic process (eg, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, fallopian tube tumor, or tubal pregnancy) that leads to distal tub…

Tumors and tumorlike lesions that secondarily involve the mesothelial or submesothelial layers of the peritoneum are a diverse group of disorders that range in biologic behavior from benign to highly malignant. The anatomy of peritoneal lig…

Various nonneoplastic entities may manifest as submucosal abnormalities at colorectal evaluation, and it may be difficult to distinguish between those with an intramural origin and those with an extramural origin on the basis of optical col…

Deep pelvic endometriosis is defined as subperitoneal infiltration of endometrial implants in the uterosacral ligaments, rectum, rectovaginal septum, vagina, or bladder. It is responsible for severe pelvic pain. Accurate preoperative assess…

Although the vast majority of bladder tumors are epithelial neoplasms, a variety of nonneoplastic disorders can cause either focal bladder masses or diffuse mural thickening and mimic malignancy. Some of these entities are rare and poorly u…

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) has become a commonly performed examination due to recent advances and improvements in, as well as the increasing popularity of, reproductive medicine. HSG plays an important role in the evaluation of abnormaliti…

Malignant transformation is a rare complication of endometriosis. Endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers are seen more often in younger women than are ovarian cancers without endometriosis, and early detection is important to improve the …

Carcinoma of the cervix has a predilection for affecting young women. In recent years, surgical procedures that combine local radical surgery with maintenance of fertility potential in young women have been investigated. One such procedure …

Adenomyosis is a nonneoplastic condition, characterized by benign invasion of ectopic endometrium into the myometrium with hyperplasia of adjacent smooth muscle. The common symptoms include dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and abnormal uterine bl…

Chronic pelvic pain is a common, disabling problem among women. Although chronic pelvic pain can be produced by many conditions, some gynecologic causes are frequently overlooked and underdiagnosed, resulting in inappropriate referral and i…

Cine mode magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has allowed evaluation of kinematics of the pelvis. Visualization of dynamic changes under strain facilitates evaluation of prolapses and adhesions between organs. The uterus, an organ of smooth mus…

Diffuse uterine enlargement is a common clinical finding. Because this abnormality can represent a physiologic manifestation, benign tumor, or malignancy, the diagnostic dilemma of a diffusely enlarged uterus can be challenging. Clinical fi…

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has extended the usefulness of imaging in evaluation of pelvic disorders associated with female infertility. The causes of female infertility include ovulatory disorders (ie, pituitary adenoma and polycystic …

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful not only for preoperative staging of gynecologic malignancies but also for prediction of the histopathologic features of a variety of intrapelvic tumors. Familiarity with the specific imaging findin…

Tamoxifen citrate therapy increases the prevalence of benign and malignant uterine lesions. At transvaginal ultrasonography (US), the finding of a thickened central endometrial complex, with or without cystic changes, is often nonspecific a…

Any significant deviation from a woman's established menstrual pattern may be considered abnormal uterine bleeding, and several factors direct evaluation of a patient with such bleeding. Premenopausal disorders that are well evaluated with …

Although ultrasound (US) is the primary imaging modality of choice in the radiologic evaluation of the female patient with acute pelvic pain, the role of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of abdominal and pelvic pain continues to e…

Endometriosis is an important gynecologic disorder primarily affecting women during their reproductive years. Pathologically, it is the result of functional endometrium located outside the uterus. It may vary from microscopic endometriotic …