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Revzin MV, Pellerito JS, Moshiri M, Katz DS, Nezami N, Kennedy A. Use of Methotrexate in Gynecologic and Obstetric Practice: What the Radiologist Needs to Know. Radiographics 2021; 41:1819-1838. [PMID: 34597234 DOI: 10.1148/rg.2021210038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Methotrexate (MTX) is the primary pharmaceutical agent that is used for management of disorders arising from trophoblastic tissue. Its widespread international use is mostly attributable to its noninvasive, safe, and effective characteristics as a treatment option for ectopic pregnancy (EP) and gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), with the large added benefit of fertility preservation. Although the effects of MTX usage are well documented in the gynecologic and obstetric literature, there is a scarcity of radiologic literature on the subject. Depending on the type of EP, the route of MTX administration and dosage may vary. US plays an essential role in the diagnosis and differentiation of various types of EPs, pregnancy-related complications, and complications related to MTX therapy, as well as the assessment of eligibility criteria for MTX usage. A knowledge of expected imaging findings following MTX treatment, including variability in echogenicity and shape of the EP, size fluctuations, changes in vascularity and gestational sac content, and the extent of hemoperitoneum, is essential for appropriate patient management and avoidance of unnecessary invasive procedures. A recognition of sonographic findings associated with pregnancy progression and complications such as tubal or uterine rupture, severe hemorrhage, septic abortion, and development of arteriovenous communications ensures prompt patient surgical management. The authors discuss the use of MTX in the treatment of disorders arising from trophoblastic tissue (namely EP and GTD), its mechanism of action, its route of administration, and various treatment regimens. The authors also provide a focused discussion of the role of US in the detection and diagnosis of EP and GTD, the assessment of the eligibility criteria for MTX use, and the identification of the sonographic findings seen following MTX treatment, with specific emphasis on imaging findings associated with MTX treatment success and failure. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita V Revzin
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208042, Room TE-2, New Haven, CT 06520 (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY (J.S.P.); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (M.M.); Department of Radiology, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.); Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga (N.N.); and Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah (A.K.)
| | - John S Pellerito
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208042, Room TE-2, New Haven, CT 06520 (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY (J.S.P.); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (M.M.); Department of Radiology, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.); Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga (N.N.); and Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah (A.K.)
| | - Mariam Moshiri
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208042, Room TE-2, New Haven, CT 06520 (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY (J.S.P.); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (M.M.); Department of Radiology, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.); Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga (N.N.); and Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah (A.K.)
| | - Douglas S Katz
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208042, Room TE-2, New Haven, CT 06520 (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY (J.S.P.); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (M.M.); Department of Radiology, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.); Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga (N.N.); and Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah (A.K.)
| | - Nariman Nezami
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208042, Room TE-2, New Haven, CT 06520 (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY (J.S.P.); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (M.M.); Department of Radiology, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.); Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga (N.N.); and Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah (A.K.)
| | - Anne Kennedy
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, PO Box 208042, Room TE-2, New Haven, CT 06520 (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY (J.S.P.); Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Wash (M.M.); Department of Radiology, NYU Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.); Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga (N.N.); and Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah (A.K.)
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Nedopekina E, Escura S, Cobo T, Hansson SR, Martinez JM, Figueras F, López M. Conservative treatment in non-tubal ectopic pregnancy and predictors of treatment failure. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 257:6-10. [PMID: 33310657 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.11.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To find possible predictive factors to predict the failure of conservative treatment of non-tubal ectopic pregnancy. For that purpose, we assessed the rate of failure, complications and need for additional interventions of the different primary treatment regimens in non-tubal ectopic pregnancies that occurred in our center. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective single-center study conducted at Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (Spain). Conservative treatment regimens included medical (systemic single or multiple dose methotrexate; ultrasound-guided intrasaccular injection of methotrexate or chloride potassium; surgical (oophorectomy in case of ovarian ectopic pregnancy, surgical curettage). The main outcome measures were success of primary treatment and the need for additional interventions. The secondary outcomes were success rate of conservative treatment, incidence of complications, days to discharge from the hospital, days until negative β-hCG, days until complete resolution of the process. Possible predictor factors for primary treatment failure were assessed. RESULTS A total of 39 cases were included. Primary treatment was successful in 74 % (29/39). The rate of failure of primary treatment was higher in the group with presence of embryo heartbeat than in the group without, 46 % vs. 15 % respectively (p < 0.0001). Among the cases that required additional treatments, none of them required hysterectomy. Presence of embryo heartbeat significantly increased the likelihood of failure of the primary treatment (OR 4.71, 95 % CI 1.03-21.65, p < 0.05). Every doubling of the β-hCG levels increased the risk of treatment failure by 54 % (OR 1.54, 95 % CI 1.03-2.39, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Conservative treatment is a safe option for treatment of non-tubal ectopic pregnancy. The presence of embryo heartbeat and β-hCG levels at diagnosis may be used as predictive factors of failure of conservative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Nedopekina
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Silvia Escura
- Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Cobo
- Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefan Rocco Hansson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden; Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Lund, Sweden
| | - Josep Maria Martinez
- Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Figueras
- Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta López
- Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain
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