MRI of Appendicitis and Bowel Diseases in Pregnancy

Clinical assessment of a pregnant patient for suspected bowel pathology is often limited by the hindrances of overlapping symptoms of pregnancy and altered presentations of bowel diseases. Given the significant impact on both fetal and maternal well-being, accurate and prompt diagnoses are critical. With continued technical advancements and lack of exposure to ionizing radiation, MRI has emerged as a modality with significant contribution to the workup of bowel pathology in this patient population. This chapter will discuss the use of MRI for appendicitis in pregnancy, a frequently encountered emergent gastrointestinal tract indication, along with its mimics, as well as other various acute common and uncommon acute bowel pathologies in pregnancy.