The utility of abdominopelvic CT in pregnant patients with abdominal pain and a negative or inconclusive abdominal MRI

Clin Imaging. 2020 Jan;59(1):88-94. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2019.10.008. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Abstract

Pregnant women with abdominal pain can pose a diagnostic dilemma due to the nonspecific nature of symptoms and the desire to avoid radiation to the conceptus. Many algorithms will suggest ultrasound (US) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as the first-line imaging choice in pregnant women with abdominal pain due to the lack of ionizing radiation. However, these studies can have limitations as well. Abdominopelvic MRI is susceptible to respiratory motion that could cause a study to be nondiagnostic (Zaitsev et al., 2015 [1]). In the current case series, we present 8 pregnant patients with abdominal pain who underwent CT abdomen and pelvis after negative or inconclusive abdominal MRI exams. To our knowledge, this is the only case series that describes CT findings in the pregnant population after negative or inconclusive MRI.

Keywords: Abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Computed tomography (CT) abdomen; Computed tomography (CT) pelvis; Nondiagnostic; Pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology*
  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Pelvis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / etiology*
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Ultrasonography
  • Young Adult