Gynecologic ultrasound in emergency medicine

This article focuses on the use of ultrasound in the nonpregnant female patient who presents to the emergency department with acute abdominopelvic pain. Ultrasound plays a crucial role in the emergent diagnosis of acute ovarian torsion, pelvic abscesses, and ruptured ovarian cyst. The gynecologic application of ultrasound requires skill beyond the level of the primary applications of emergency medicine ultrasound; however, the author believes that even. limited expertise in gynecologic ultrasound is valuable in helping direct the management of these patients. Further research by skilled sonographers will help to define the role of emergency physicians in this application of ultrasound.