Role of ultrasound in the evaluation of patients with acute pelvic pain

Acute pelvic pain is a common clinical condition that can indicate a range of gynecological, gastrointestinal, urinary, and vascular pathologies. Early diagnosis is essential to manage these patients, particularly in emergency settings. Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) can be used as a first-line diagnostic tool for acute pelvic pain, due to its diagnostic capacity in identifying key pathologies. PoCUS enables quick, real-time assessment of conditions such as gastrointestinal pathologies (e.g., appendicitis and diverticulitis) and gynecological issues (e.g., hemorrhagic ovarian cysts and torsions) without exposing patients to ionizing radiation. This narrative review aims to evaluate the specific ultrasound findings for each condition, thus underscoring PoCUS diagnostic accuracy and utility. PoCUS is a valuable tool in the clinical management of acute pelvic pain. PoCUS optimizes patient outcomes and streamlines therapeutic pathways in both emergency and routine clinical settings by facilitating timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.