Magnetic resonance imaging of acute abdominal and pelvic pain in pregnancy

Abstract

Acute abdominal and pelvic pain in the pregnant patient poses many clinical challenges and often requires imaging for accurate diagnosis. Differential diagnostic considerations include gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, renal, and gynecologic/obstetric conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may reliably distinguish between causes for pain without the need for intravenous contrast administration or ionizing radiation. It is important for the radiologist to be familiar with a basic MRI protocol for imaging the pregnant patient presenting with acute abdominal and pelvic pain and to be familiar with the vast differential diagnoses and their associated imaging findings.