Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Multimodality Imaging Approach with Clinical-Pathologic Correlation

Margarita V. Revzin, Revzin MV, Mathur M, Mahan Mathur, Dave HB, Haatal B Dave, Matthew L Macer, Matthew Macer, Macer ML, Michael Spektor, Spektor M
Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc · 2016 · vol. 36(5) , pp. 1579–1596 · doi:10.1148/rg.2016150202 · PMID:27618331 · W2519340695
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This paper reviews the multimodality imaging approach for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), detailing CT findings, differential diagnoses, and the role of US and MR imaging for accurate diagnosis and management.

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Abstract

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common medical problem, with almost 1 million cases diagnosed annually. Historically, PID has been a clinical diagnosis supplemented with the findings from ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. However, the diagnosis of PID can be challenging because the clinical manifestations may mimic those of other pelvic and abdominal processes. Given the nonspecific clinical manifestations, computed tomography (CT) is commonly the first imaging examination performed. General CT findings of early- and late-stage PID include thickening of the uterosacral ligaments, pelvic fat stranding with obscuration of fascial planes, reactive lymphadenopathy, and pelvic free fluid. Recognition of these findings, as well as those seen with cervicitis, endometritis, acute salpingitis, oophoritis, pyosalpinx, hydrosalpinx, tubo-ovarian abscess, and pyometra, is crucial in allowing prompt and accurate diagnosis. Late complications of PID include tubal damage resulting in infertility and ectopic pregnancy, peritonitis caused by uterine and/or tubo-ovarian abscess rupture, development of peritoneal adhesions resulting in bowel obstruction and/or hydroureteronephrosis, right upper abdominal inflammation (Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome), and septic thrombophlebitis. Recognition of these late manifestations at CT can also aid in proper patient management. At CT, careful assessment of common PID mimics, such as endometriosis, adnexal torsion, ruptured hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, adnexal neoplasms, appendicitis, and diverticulitis, is important to avoid misinterpretation, delay in management, and unnecessary surgery. Correlation with the findings from complementary imaging examinations, such as US and MR imaging, is useful for establishing a definitive diagnosis. (©)RSNA, 2016.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Multimodal Imaging Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Tomography, X-Ray Computed Diagnosis, Differential Female Humans Magnetic Resonance Imaging Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Ultrasonography

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