Please see also Links To And Excerpts “Adnexal Torsion in Adolescents” from ACOG
Posted on April 25, 2020 by Tom Wade MD
In this post I link to and excerpt from the following resources:
- Ovarian Torsion Myths [Direct link to the podcast] [from 21:35 – 26:47] EM Quick Hits 12 AFib Early vs Delayed Cardioversion, Snake Bites, Ovarian Torsion Myths, Crystal Meth, Aortic Dissection, Severe Asthma Meds [Lin is to show notes and podcast] January 2020 from Emergency Medicine Cases
- Ovarian Torsion Imaging [Direct link to the podcast] [from 23:24 – 29:21] from EM Quick Hits 17 Adrenal Crisis, Strep Throat, Posterior MI, DKA Just the Facts, Ovarian Torsion Imaging, HINTS Exam, Canadian CT Head Rule [Link is to show notes and podcast] April 2020 from Emergency Medicine Cases
Here are the show notes from Ovarian Torsion Myths*above:
*And of course all women and girls with abdominal pain should have a urine pregnancy test and a pelvic ultrasound.
Myths in the utility of clinical features in diagnosis of ovarian torsion
- Myth: Ovarian torsion only occurs in women of reproductive age. Ovarian torsion affects women of all ages including children, postmenopausal and pregnant women.
- Myth: My patient’s pain is mild, and she has had it off and on for a few days. This cannot possibly be torsion, right? The classic presentation of ovarian torsion is not always present; patients may have intermittent pain or no pain at all. Intermittent torsion can occur. Only 50% of patients have acute, severe pain.
- Myth: My patient is minimally tender, and no mass can be palpated on bimanual examination. Therefore, torsion can be ruled out. Do not rely on a normal abdominal, pelvic, or bimanual examination to rule out torsion. Literature suggests the abdominal and bimanual exams, whether conducted by emergency clinicians or obstetricians, do not have adequate sensitivity (23-26%). Our bimanual exam often fails to detect ovarian masses < 5 cm in diameter.
If your patient has lower quadrant pain but an otherwise unrevealing evaluation, keep torsion on the differential.
And here are the show notes from Ovarian Torsion Imaging above:
Ovarian torsion imaging myths
Myth #1: Normal arterial flow on Doppler ultrasound rules out ovarian torsion.
- Normal Doppler US cannot rule out ovarian torsion
- Many cases of surgically confirmed ovarian torsion have completely normal venous and arterial blood flow
- The most common finding on US is an enlarged ovary (> 4 cm).
- Consider using a combination of US findings, such as abnormal vascular flow, free fluid on US, an ovary pushed towards the midline, or increased ovarian size.
Myth #2: CT of the abdomen/pelvis is not helpful in evaluation of suspected ovarian torsion.
- CT with IV contrast can suggest torsion.
- The most common finding on CT is an enlarged ovary. If this is found on CT and no other pathology is present, move to US.
- Other findings include an underlying ovarian lesion, lack of enhancement, inflammatory fat stranding around the ovary, free pelvic fluid surround the ovary, and twisting of the vascular pedicle.
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