Aspect échographique et IRM de la grossesse extra-utérine

Pregnancy in a rudimentary horn: multicenter's MRI features of a rare condition

PURPOSE

To describe the MRI features of rudimentary horn pregnancy (RHP) with surgical correlations.

METHODS

Nine women with a RHP underwent preoperative pelvic MRI. MRI protocol included T2- (n = 9), T1- (n = 7), and fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences (n = 4). Two pelvic radiologists retrospectively analyzed MR images to assess the following MRI features: presence of a myometrium around the gestational sac (GS) and characteristics of its wall, GS surrounded by myometrium in contact with the round ligament, communication of the GS with the endometrial cavity of the main horn, continuity of the GS with the cervix, fibrous or muscular GS attachment to the main horn, lateral deviation, and endometrial thickness of the main horn. Ovaries and tubes were also assessed. MRI features were correlated with surgical findings.

RESULTS

Seven of the nine women [29 ± 6 SD years (range 16-37 years)] underwent surgical management. The first US diagnosed RHP in only 1/9 patients. All pregnancies were diagnosed using MRI. RHP was all located in the rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus. All the GS was surrounded by myometrium in contact with the round ligament. None of the RHP displayed communication with the endometrial cavity of the main horn nor with the cervix. An attachment between the RHP and the main horn was seen in 3/9 patients. All the main horns were lateralized and empty.

CONCLUSION

MRI diagnosed RHP in all patients by identifying the GS surrounded by myometrium in contact with the round ligament and the absence of continuity between the GS and the cervix.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV-retrospective study.

Interstitial pregnancy is one of the most serious and uncommon ectopic pregnancies: Case report

Background

Ectopic pregnancies are a dreaded and common cause of first-trimester metrorrhagia. They refer to the implantation and development of the embryo outside the uterine cavity. Interstitial localization is uncommon and corresponds to implantation of the embryo in the intramural part of the uterine tube. It has an unforeseen evolution with a risk of cataclysmic hemorrhage by uterine rupture in the absence of early diagnosis and management.

Case presentation

We herein present the uncommon case of a 26-year-old female patient, second gestation, nulliparous, who underwent a pelvic ultrasonography in the emergency department for pelvic pain associated with a two-month amenorrhea. A past history of left salpingectomy for a ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy 3 years ago was found. Pelvic ultrasound allowed us to detect a ruptured ectopic interstitial pregnancy at 7 weeks of amenorrhea. Significant hemoperitoneum and hemodynamic instability required emergency laparotomy. The condition was confirmed preoperatively and the patient underwent a corneal resection. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on day 4 postoperatively.

Conclusions

The interstitial ectopic pregnancy is an uncommon and life-threatening condition. The importance of early ultrasound detection is of paramount importance to allow conservative treatment with methotrexate injections. Delayed diagnosis requires cornual uterine resection with all the complications that it implies.

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Interstitial ectopic pregnancy is an uncommon and life-threatening condition.

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Conservative management with methotrexate injections can only be proposed after an early diagnosis.

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The importance of early ultrasound screening is emphasized, especially in cases of previous ectopic pregnancies.