Hepatic and perihepatic involvement of female genital diseases and pregnancy: a review

Liver imaging and pregnancy: what to expect when your patient is expecting

Liver diseases in pregnancy can be specific to gestation or only coincidental. In the latter case, the diagnosis can be difficult. Rapid diagnosis of maternal-fetal emergencies and situations requiring specialized interventions are crucial to preserve the maternal liver and guarantee materno-fetal survival. While detailed questioning of the patient and a clinical examination are highly important, imaging is often essential to reach a diagnosis of these liver diseases and lesions. Three groups of liver diseases may be observed during pregnancy: (1) diseases related to pregnancy: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy; (2) liver diseases that are more frequent during or exacerbated by pregnancy: acute herpes simplex hepatitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia, hepatocellular adenoma, portal vein thrombosis, and cholelithiasis; (3) coincidental conditions, including acute hepatitis, incidental focal liver lesions, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver abscesses and parasitosis, and liver transplantation. Specific knowledge of the main imaging findings is required to reach an early diagnosis, for adequate follow-up, and to avoid adverse consequences in both the mother and the fetus.Critical relevance statement Pregnancy-related liver diseases are the most important cause of liver dysfunction in pregnant patients and, in pregnancy, even common liver conditions can have an unexpected turn. Fear of radiations should never delay necessary imaging studies in pregnancy.Key points• Pregnancy-related liver diseases are the most frequent cause of liver dysfunction during gestation.• Fear of radiation should never delay necessary imaging studies.• Liver imaging is important to assess liver emergencies and for the diagnosis and follow-up of any other liver diseases.• Common liver conditions and lesions may take an unexpected turn during pregnancy.• Pregnancy-specific diseases such as pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome must be rapidly identified. However, imaging should never delay delivery when it is considered to be urgent for maternal-fetal survival.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Postmenopausal Acute Pelvic Pain

Acute pelvic pain is a common presenting complaint in both the emergency room and outpatient settings. Pelvic pain of gynecologic origin in postmenopausal women occurs less frequently than in premenopausal women; however, it has important differences in etiology. The most common causes of postmenopausal pelvic pain from gynecologic origin are ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ovarian neoplasm. Other etiologies of pelvic pain are attributable to urinary, gastrointestinal, and vascular systems. As the optimal imaging modality varies for these etiologies, it is important to narrow the differential diagnosis before choosing the initial diagnostic imaging examination. Transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound are the best initial imaging techniques when the differential is primarily of gynecologic origin. CT with intravenous (IV) contrast is more useful if the differential diagnosis remains broad. MRI without IV contrast or MRI without and with IV contrast, as well as CT without IV contrast may also be used for certain differential considerations. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

MR Imaging of the Perihepatic Space

The perihepatic space is frequently involved in a spectrum of diseases, including intrahepatic lesions extending to the liver capsule and disease conditions involving adjacent organs extending to the perihepatic space or spreading thanks to the communication from intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal sites through the hepatic ligaments. Lesions resulting from the dissemination of peritoneal processes may also affect the perihepatic space. Here we discuss how to assess the perihepatic origin of a lesion and describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of normal structures and fluids that may be abnormally located in the perihepatic space. We then review and illustrate the MRI findings present in cases of perihepatic infectious, tumor-related, and miscellaneous conditions. Finally, we highlight the value of MRI over computed tomography.