When is MRI used for diagnostic purposes in patients with an acute abdomen or pelvis?
MRI is typically used as a problem-solving diagnostic modality following initial CT or ultrasonography (US) evaluation of patients with acute symptoms or signs of abdominopelvic disease, given its longer image acquisition times and greater expense. However, it is often utilized following nondiagnostic US for the evaluation of pregnant women who present with an acute abdomen or pelvis, given its lack of ionizing radiation. Furthermore, it is being utilized more and more often as the initial diagnostic test in many nonpregnant patients who present with an acute abdomen or pelvis, given its superior soft tissue contrast resolution (even when intravenous contrast material is not administered) and lack of ionizing radiation relative to CT.
