Synonyms
Acute abdominal pain, Abdominal cramps, Peritonitis
Definition
The acute abdomen is a frequently encountered clinical finding with a variety of possible etiologies. This chapter highlights the most frequent genital pathologies that may cause an acute abdomen.
Genital causes of an acute abdomen include complications of leiomyoma, uterine rupture, adnexal torsion, hemorrhagic cyst, ruptured dermoid cyst, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, extrauterine gravidity (EUG), uterine perforation, ovarian vein thrombosis, endometritis, and HELLP syndrome.
Placental abruption and postpartal hematoma are among the most common obstetrical causes of acute abdomen. Imaging may play a role in defining the extent of hematoma. However, in most cases, the clinical presentation is straightforward and therefore no further details are discussed here.
Rarely, genitourinary tuberculosis may present as an acute abdomen ( 1) due to peritonitis, but...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Kim SH, Kim SH, Yang DM et al (2004) Unusual causes of tubo‐ovarian abscess: CT and MR imaging findings (review). Radiographics 24:1575–1589
Rha SE, Byun JY, Jung SE et al (2002) CT and MR imaging features of adnexal torsion. Radiographics 22:283–294
Anonymous (1997) Revised American society for reproductive medicine classification of endometriosis. Fertil Steril 67:817–821
Bennett GL, Slywotzky CM, Giovanniello G (2002) Gynecologic causes of acute pelvic pain: spectrum of CT findings (review). Radiographics 22:785–801
Kawakami S, Togashi K, Konishi I et al (1994) Red degeneration of uterine leiomyoma: MR appearance. J Comput Assist Tomogr 18:925–928
Leyendecker JR, Gorengaut V, Brown JJ (2004) MR imaging of maternal diseases of the abdomen and pelvis during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period (review). Radiographics 24:1301–1316
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Knüsel, P.R. (2008). Acute Abdomen, Genital Causes. In: Baert, A.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Diagnostic Imaging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-35280-8_36
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-35280-8_36
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-35278-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-35280-8
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine