Ultrasound of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic sonography is performed commonly in patients who have a clinical diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease. Although the study may be normal or sometimes nonspecific, there are various findings that are characteristic of this process. Understanding of the sonographic features of pelvic inflammation, salpingitis, pyosalpinx, tubo-ovarian complex and tubo-ovarian abscess will allow the interpreter to make more specific, clinically useful diagnoses. Sonography also can help to distinguish acute from chronic abnormalities in the fallopian tubes. Correlation of sonography with pelvic CT is important, as CT is ordered with increasing frequency in patients who have unexplained lower abdominal pain.