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BACKGROUND. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is known to be associated with a distinct form of coagulopathy. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to describe the imaging manifestations of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy across anatomic sites and modalities in hospitalized patients and to identify clinical variables associated with positive imaging findings. METHODS. We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to our hospital over a 3-week period. Data on patient demographics, hematologic values, cross-sectional imaging examinations, and clinical outcomes (death and intubation) were collected. Imaging was reviewed for manifestations of coagulopathy. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations of patient demographics, hematologic markers, and outcomes with the need for imaging and imaging manifestations of coagulopathy. RESULTS. Of 308 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, 142 (46%) underwent 332 cross-sectional imaging examinations. Of these, 37 (26%) had imaging results positive for coagulopathy. The most common imaging manifestations of coagulopathy were pulmonary embolus ( n = 21) on contrast-enhanced CT or CTA, thrombus in the upper- or lower-extremity veins ( n = 13) on Doppler ultrasound, end-organ infarction in the bowel ( n = 4) and kidney ( n = 4) on contrast-enhanced CT, and thrombus or parenchymal infarction in the brain ( n = 2) on contrast-enhanced CTA or MRI with MRA. Among patients with imaging results positive for coagulopathy, eight (22%) had multisite involvement. Thrombi were multifocal in four of five patients with positive upper-extremity and three of eight patients with positive lower-extremity examination results and involved superficial veins, deep veins, or both. In multivariable analysis, intubation ( p < .001) and prolonged prothrombin time ( p = .04) were significantly associated with undergoing imaging. No patient variable was significantly associated with imaging results positive for coagulopathy ( p > .05). CONCLUSION. Imaging commonly shows manifestations of coagulopathy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Over one-fifth of patients with such manifestations show multisite involvement. Clinical variables poorly predict which patients have positive imaging results, indicating a complementary role of imaging in detecting COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. CLINICAL IMPACT. In patients with COVID-19 with suspected systemic coagulopathy, pulmonary CTA, extremity Doppler ultrasound, contrast-enhanced abdominal CT, and contrast-enhanced brain MRI and MRA may all be appropriate in the absence of imaging contraindications.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide a primer for radiologists performing MRI for suspected placenta accreta, illustrating normal and abnormal findings and diagnostic pitfalls. Appropriate examination indications and recommendations for optimizing image acquisition and interpretation are summarized., Conclusion: MRI increases the accuracy of the workup of high-risk patients and aids in multidisciplinary delivery planning to improve maternal outcome. Reader accuracy and confidence require adherence to examination performance, image interpretation criteria, and awareness of common pitfalls.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review fetal radiation doses and associated risks resulting from CT performed during pregnancy. The scanning parameters that influence dose and the techniques for estimating and reducing dose are explained., Conclusion: Fetal radiation doses for CT examinations in which the fetus is not directly imaged-for example, head or chest CT-are minimal and need not figure in the risk-benefit analysis to perform the examination. In contrast, radiation dose should be considered with abdominopelvic CT because the fetus is likely to be exposed directly to the scanning beam. Safe implementation of CT in this setting requires an understanding of the factors influencing radiation dose. With this knowledge, when a risk-benefit analysis in a given clinical situation favors imaging using CT, the radiologist need not withhold or delay the examination and can achieve diagnostic-quality images while reducing radiation exposure.

Objective: The CT and MRI features of ovarian torsion are illustrated with gross pathologic correlation. Ovarian enlargement with or without an underlying mass is the finding most frequently associated with torsion, but it is nonspecific. A twisted pedicle, although not often detected on imaging, is pathognomonic when seen. Subacute ovarian hemorrhage and abnormal enhancement is usually seen, and both features show characteristic patterns on CT and MRI. Ipsilateral uterine deviation can also be seen., Conclusion: Diagnostic pitfalls that may mimic ovarian torsion and observations for discriminating them are discussed.

The educational objectives for this self-assessment module are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of malignant tumors of the female pelvic floor and the imaging features that determine therapy.

Objective: The objective of our study was to analyze body CT utilization trends, indications, fetal radiation doses, and scanning parameters associated with high fetal radiation doses (defined as > 30 mGy)., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of all chest and abdominopelvic CT examinations performed between 1998 and 2005 of patients known to be pregnant was conducted. Demographics, gestational age, examination indication, and scan parameters were recorded. Fetal radiation dose was calculated for those abdominopelvic examinations with direct fetal irradiation., Results: From a database of more than 170,000 chest and more than 180,000 abdominopelvic CT examinations, 74 chest and 86 abdominopelvic examinations of pregnant patients were identified. Chest CT use increased on average 75%/y/1,000 deliveries in pregnancy versus 19%/y increase in all patients (p = 0.2700). Abdominopelvic CT utilization increase was on average 22%/y/1,000 deliveries in pregnant patients versus 13%/y increase in all patients (p = 0.1865). The most common indication for chest CT during pregnancy was suspected pulmonary embolism (85%, 63/74) and for abdominopelvic CT, suspected appendicitis (58%, 50/86). The average fetal dose from abdominopelvic CT was 24.8 mGy (range, 6.7-56 mGy); one examination exceeded the 50-mGy threshold for increased risk of childhood cancer. Scanning parameters associated with a dose of more than 30 mGy were a pitch of less than 1 (p = 0.0080) and more than one series acquisition (p = 0.0136)., Conclusion: Growth of CT during pregnancy reflects the trend of increased CT utilization in the general population. Avoiding use of CT in pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis would significantly decrease fetal radiation exposure. Abdominopelvic CT during pregnancy should be carefully planned and monitored so as not to exceed the fetal radiation dose for negligible risk.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of imaging-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation to treat metastatic retroperitoneal disease in patients with gynecologic malignancies., Materials and Methods: Patients with retroperitoneal metastatic disease due to gynecologic malignancies were evaluated for imaging-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in this study. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by post-radiofrequency ablation activity on PET/CT scans., Results: Eight patients were considered for imaging-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of retroperitoneal metastatic disease. Radiofrequency ablation was successfully completed in five patients with six metastatic tumors. All procedures were performed with the use of hydrodissection as an adjunct maneuver to displace adjacent structures. All patients showed absence of FDG activity on post-radiofrequency ablation PET/CT scans. Three (60%) of the five patients showed absence of FDG activity of the treated disease at 23.5 months after radiofrequency ablation., Conclusion: Imaging-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation may be considered as an alternative to currently available therapies to treat recurrent metastatic disease due to endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the role of MR, CT, and PET/CT in the detection of ovarian cancer and the evaluation of adnexal lesions., Conclusion: The goal of imaging in ovarian cancer detection is to expeditiously distinguish benign adnexal lesions from those requiring further pathologic evaluation for malignancy. For lesions indeterminate on ultrasound, MRI increases the specificity of imaging evaluation, thus decreasing benign resections. CT is useful in diagnosis and treatment planning of advanced cancer. Although (18)F-FDG-avid ovarian lesions in postmenopausal women are considered suspicious for malignancy, PET/CT is not recommended for primary cancer detection because of high false-positive rates.

Objective: We evaluated the ability of pretreatment MRI and PET/CT to improve outcomes for patients with clinically staged International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IB cervical cancer., Materials and Methods: We developed a decision-analytic model to predict outcomes for a hypothetical patient cohort with FIGO IB cervical cancer who underwent pretreatment MRI, PET/CT, MRI and PET/CT, or no further imaging (direct pursuance of surgery). The model incorporated imaging performance, underlying parametrial extension and lymph node involvement, surgery and chemoradiation treatment options, and survival penalties from incorrect assessment of disease extent. Three outcomes were compared: 5-year overall survival, percentage of patients receiving correct primary therapy, and percentage of patients spared "trimodality therapy" (surgery followed by chemoradiation). Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the effects of model uncertainty on outcomes., Results: The preferred imaging strategy depended on the outcome studied. Five-year overall survival was comparable across strategies but was highest with the no-imaging strategy (92.37%) and with PET/CT (92.36%) and lowest with MRI (92.30%). Triage to correct primary therapy was highest with PET/CT (89.27%) and lowest with MRI (68.21%). Avoidance of trimodality therapy was highest with combined MRI and PET/CT (95.01%) and lowest with the no-imaging strategy (82.32%). Results were somewhat sensitive to imaging test performance characteristics but stable across most parameter ranges tested., Conclusion: Pretreatment imaging of FIGO IB cervical cancer patients can optimize triage to appropriate therapy. Although imaging does not appear to improve survival, PET/CT maximizes patient triage to correct therapy, and combined MRI and PET/CT spares the most patients unnecessary trimodality therapy.

The educational objectives for this self-assessment module on endovaginal sonography and sonohysterography are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of the imaging evaluation of abnormal vaginal bleeding and to gain familiarity with the algorithm for the workup for endometrial disorders.

Objective: The workup of endometrial abnormalities can be a confusing task for radiologists because one must take into account the patient's clinical history, imaging findings, and a wide array of diagnostic options. We present two cases, one of a premenopausal woman presenting with vaginal bleeding and another of a postmenopausal woman taking tamoxifen who has abnormal findings on endovaginal sonography. The evaluations of these patients serve to illustrate the diagnostic algorithm for identification of endometrial pathology., Conclusion: Imaging plays a central role in the algorithm for detection of endometrial disorders in women with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Endovaginal sonography is used to identify mural abnormalities such as fibroids and adenomyosis and to screen for thickened endometria that require nonfocal biopsy for the diagnosis of cancer or hyperplasia. Sonohysterography serves as a triage tool to detect focal abnormalities of the endometrial cavity, such as endometrial polyps or subendometrial fibroids, thereby identifying those women who require more invasive workup with hysteroscopy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review our 13-year experience with sonographically guided transvaginal drainage procedures in terms of type of transvaginal procedure, that is, aspiration or catheter drainage, complication rate, and long-term success., Materials and Methods: A search of an interventional radiology database identified 85 transvaginal drainage procedures on 67 patients. Pertinent medical records and images were reviewed. Clinical success was defined as no need for surgery., Results: The mean follow-up period was 36.6 months (range, 7 days-132 months). Forty-five aspiration and 40 catheter drainage procedures were performed on 67 patients. Indications for the procedures included postoperative fluid collection (n = 25), tuboovarian abscess unresponsive to medical therapy (n = 17), symptomatic ovarian cyst (n = 17), and miscellaneous causes (n = 8). Clinical success was achieved in 50 of 67 cases (75%), including all cases of 25 postoperative fluid collection, 12 of 17 tuboovarian abscesses (71%), and seven of 17 ovarian cysts (41%). No complications were found in patients who underwent aspiration alone. The following minor complications occurred in patients who underwent catheter drainage: two cases of bladder transgression, one case of infection, and one case of catheter-related pain. Premature dislodgment of the catheter was an issue for four of 40 patients (10%)., Conclusion: Postoperative fluid collections can be managed with a high rate of success by means of transvaginal aspiration or catheter drainage. Transvaginal catheter drainage is an alternative to surgery in the management of tuboovarian abscesses unresponsive to medical management. Aspiration alone is sufficient to drain ovarian cysts and provide symptomatic relief. Most cysts recur, however, ultimately necessitating surgery. Aspiration is safe, but catheter drainage is associated with a 10% rate of minor complications.

Objective: This essay illustrates the salient features of variant smooth-muscle tumors on multiple imaging techniques with correlative pathology. We describe how recognition of these features allows the radiologist to distinguish a uterine leiomyoma variant from the classic fibroid or a leiomyosarcoma. Finally, we highlight the role of the radiologist in triaging these patients to surgical versus medical management and in surgical planning., Conclusion: Parasitic leiomyoma, intravenous leiomyomatosis, disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis, and benign metastasizing leiomyoma show key features on multiple imaging techniques that correlate with pathology findings. In the appropriate clinical setting, the radiologist should include these unusual lesions in the broader differential diagnosis of smooth-muscle tumors and, in certain cases, aid in surgical planning.

Objective: A 46-year-old woman presented with bilateral adnexal masses on pelvic sonography, a complex cystic mass on the right, and a homogeneously hypoechoic, solid-appearing mass on the left. Pelvic MRI showed a T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense, nonenhancing mass in the right ovary and a homogeneously T1 hyperintense lesion with mixed T2 signal in the left ovary. Fat-saturated T1-weighted sequences showed the left ovarian lesion to be an endometrioma containing a high concentration of hemoglobin breakdown products and revealed other endometriotic implants in the right ovary, broad ligament, and cul-de-sac. Follow-up pelvic sonography 9 weeks later showed resolution of the right complex cystic ovarian mass, indicating that it was a physiologic hemorrhagic cyst., Conclusion: Imaging features of benign and malignant ovarian masses overlap. If imaging is inconclusive in characterizing an adnexal mass as benign, the mass will be resected rather than followed up because of the concern for a rapidly growing ovarian cancer. Thus, the goal of imaging is to identify unequivocally the benign lesions that can be left untreated. Pelvic MRI provides a powerful adjunct to pelvic sonography in characterizing adnexal masses as benign.