Application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for scar pregnancy cases misdiagnosed as other diseases

Intramural ectopic pregnancy: An individual patient data systematic review

Intramural pregnancies (IMP) are very rare and represent about 1% of ectopic pregnancies (EPs). Despite a few reported cases, there is limited awareness & knowledge among sonographers and physicians. Moreover, no established diagnostic or treatment protocol exists for such a condition. This study identifies and synthesizes what is known about IMP, including etiology and pathophysiology, common clinical presentations, imaging features, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic findings, and management. PUBMED and Google Scholar were queried to identify eligible studies. All articles on IMP in human subjects available in English and French languages were included. Other types of ectopic pregnancies, including cesarean scar and cervical ectopic pregnancies, were excluded. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and a narrative synthesis approach were used to systematically review the medical literature. 82 cases distributed around 27 countries with an average maternal age of 32.07 years and gestational age of 9.27 weeks were eventually selected for this study. History of curettage was the most common risk factor reported in 30 (36.58%) patients, followed by history of salpingectomy, assisted reproduction with embryo transfer, and previous cesarean delivery, in 10(12.19%), 10(12.19%), and 9(10.97%) patients respectively. Ultrasound was performed in 80(97.56%) cases. Of the 66 reported ultrasound findings, 29 were diagnostic or suggestive of IMP. MRI, laparoscopy (both diagnostic & surgical) and diagnostic hysteroscopy were carried out on 18(21.95%), 36(43.9%) and 22(26.83%) patients respectively. Histopathologic examination mainly performed after surgery was the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis. Management involved conservative (3.65%) approach, medical treatment with methotrexate or potassium chloride (23.17%), and surgical interventions. The latter includes laparoscopic surgery (25.61%), laparotomic surgery (23.17%), and hysterectomy (13.41%). IMP is a rare but potentially lethal clinical entity. A significant proportion of patients are asymptomatic and have no known risk factors. Correlation between clinical history and imaging findings is vital to establish a prompt diagnosis and reduce the risk of a catastrophic outcome.

Myomectomy scar pregnancy ‒ a serious, but scarcely reported entity: literature review and an instructive case

Objectives

Uterine myomas are a frequent finding in reproductive age women with an estimated incidence 12–25%. 1. Treatment of uterine myomas to facilitate good pregnancy rates and outcome, such as hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, abdominal resection uterine artery embolization among others were evaluated in terms of pregnancy outcome. While the literature is replete of the pregnancy complication of uterine rupture after myomectomies, 2–4 there are very few publications evaluate a relatively rare pregnancy complication associated with placental implantation within the uterine cavity at the site of the previous myomectomy, namely the myomectomy scar pregnancy (MSP). Despite their relative rarity, this type of pathologically adherent placenta rightfully belongs to the well-known entity of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).

Case presentation

We present a complicated case of MSP and review the available literature to raise attention to its clinical appearance, its prenatal diagnosis so appropriate intrapartum management can be planned.

Conclusions

Despite the rarity of MSP, continuous attention should be given at every single routinely scheduled or indication driven obstetrical US scan following myomectomies to evaluate the placental site implantation regardless of the route and technique of their initial surgical procedure.

Myomectomy scar pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Myomectomy scar pregnancy (MSP) is a rare disease, which is defined as a gestational sac located within a previous myomectomy scar. MSP is an uncommon late complication of uterine fibroids after myomectomy. We report a case where the implantation site matched the site of the previous myomectomy, and review the existing literature. A 28-year-old pregnant woman presented with vaginal bleeding. She was diagnosed with MSP by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, and then underwent laparotomic enucleation. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Taking into account the findings in our case and the seven other reported cases of MSP, we propose that MSP can be divided into three types and that surgical enucleation of the pregnancy mass is an effective treatment.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in uterine artery embolization treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy

Objective

The current study aimed to investigate the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in diagnosis and treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).

Methods

A retrospective study was performed in 35 patients with clinically suspected CSP who requested termination of pregnancy and underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The patients were classified into two groups on the basis of whether they received uterine artery embolization (UAE). The CEUS characteristics of the two groups were reviewed.

Results

CEUS features of CSP were early enhancement of the cesarean scar and continuous infusion of contrast agent between the gestational sac and cesarean scar. Myometrial thickness in the cesarean scar was thinner in the UAE group than in the non-UAE group by CEUS and transvaginal ultrasound. Myometrial thickness measured by CEUS was thinner than that measured by transvaginal ultrasound in both groups. The parameters of the time-intensity curve in the UAE group were characterized by a faster arrival time, shorter time to peak, higher peak intensity, and greater enhancement rate compared with the non-UAE group.

Conclusions

CEUS may be a novel supplementary method to diagnose and assess CSP, and to help evaluate whether UAE is required.