Salpingitis is an infection or inflammation of the fallopian tube, most commonly caused by sexually transmitted bacteria as part of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Acute salpingitis can lead to pelvic pain, fever, and vaginal discharge, and if untreated, may progress to tubo-ovarian abscess, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. On ultrasound, an acutely inflamed fallopian tube may appear as a dilated, fluid-filled tubular structure (pyosalpinx if filled with pus) with thickened walls. The “cogwheel sign” — thickened mucosal folds creating a gear-like cross-section — is characteristic. The tube may appear as a serpiginous (winding) structure separate from the ovary. Chronic salpingitis can lead to hydrosalpinx, where the tube remains dilated with clear fluid. Ultrasound, particularly transvaginal, is essential for detecting these tubal abnormalities.
Sonography Term