Applied Radiology, May 2014
John P. McGahan, MD, Michael T. Corwin, MD, and Eugenio O. Gerscovich, MD
The clinical presentation and per - tinent laboratory analysis often determine the appropriate imag - ing differential in evaluating any woman presenting with pelvic symptoms. In a patient with a positive preg - nancy test, sonography is the modal - ity of choice to evaluate the pregnancy and any complications. In other patients who are not pregnant and present with pelvic pain or a mass, ultrasound is also the first imaging modality utilized. Computed tomography (CT) is pri - marily utilized for staging of pelvic malignancies or suspected bowel ab - normalities, such as appendicitis or di - verticulitis. However, CT performed for other reasons, including abdominal pain, may detect and may be diagnostic in certain pelvic abnormalities