Methotrexate for Cornual Ectopic Pregnancy

Cornual Pregnancy

Cornual pregnancy (CP) is a subtype of ectopic pregnancy that is implanted in the interstitial segment of the fallopian tube which is defined as the tubal section crossing uterine muscular tissue. Widely recognized risk factors for CP are endometriosis, uterine leiomyomata, or pelvic inflammatory disease; all these diseases can cause tubal anatomic changes and consequently alter embryo physiological implant process. Many treatment options are available for this condition each one must be tailored according to patient and operating scenario. The incidence of uterine ruptures in the scarred uterus appears to be low, but the fear of it remains and therefore medical treatment might be favored over cornual wedge resection. The actual risk of uterine rupture after medical treatment is unknown. Multiple testing strategies exist to diagnose CP, but caution needs to be used to avoid a false diagnosis.

Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation in a patient with cornual pregnancy: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation (uAVM) is a rare disease and could occur after dilation and curettage, cesarean section, or neoplastic processes.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 29-year-old female presented with acute right lower abdominal pain and positive beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG).

DIAGNOSIS

A 6 cm ectopic right cornual pregnancy was found on ultrasound examination.

INTERVENTIONS

She underwent a laparoscopic resection of the cornual ectopic pregnancy. She returned with extensive vaginal bleeding 6-month post surgery, and eventually diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation at the previous surgical site by Color Dopplor endovaginal ultrasound. Percutaneous transcatheter uterine artery embolization (UAE) was attempted, however, vaginal bleeding continued. She was taken to the operation room for a hysteroscopic ablation of uAVM.

OUTCOMES

Complete cessation of the bleeding was achieved without hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

We report an extremely unusual case of acquired uAVM after a wedge resection of cornual pregnancy. Ultrasound evaluation of patients with post-operative persistent bleeding should be considered for evaluation of a possible arteriovenous malformation.

Multidose methotrexate treatment of cornual pregnancy after in vitro fertilization: Two case reports

Background

An ectopic pregnancy, when the gestational sac is implanted outside of the uterine cavity, can be life-threatening. A cornual pregnancy is the most dangerous type of ectopic pregnancy since it can be misdiagnosed easily and has high mortality rate. It is diagnosed when the implantation site is at the junction between the fallopian tube and the uterus. For a successful outcome, early diagnosis and management are critical. The traditional management is surgical, involving cornual resection or hysterectomy, which, however, affects fertility. Thus, conservative management involving administration of methotrexate should always be considered.

Case presentation

The article describes to two women in their early forties with no previous children (G1, P0) and diagnosed with a cornual pregnancy at 7 and 8 weeks of gestation following in vitro fertilization. Given their hemodynamic stability and their desire to conserve fertility they were treated conservatively. The two patients had similar ultrasound findings and blood results. The main difference was the presence of an embryonic heart beat in one case. Successful management was accomplished with multidose methotrexate and leucovorin during hospitalization for 8 days and close monitoring for the next 30 days as outpatients. In addition, the second woman was given a transvaginal injection of potassium chloride (KCL) to stop embryonic cardiac activity.

Conclusion

Conservative management of cornual pregnancies applying multidose therapy of methotrexate and leucovorin is a safe treatment when patients are asymptomatic and preserves fertility.

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Cornual pregnancy is the most dangerous type of ectopic pregnancy.

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Conservative treatment using multiple doses of methotrexate is safe and effective.

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When fetal cardiac activity is present KCL injection should be used.

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If the woman becomes hemodynamically unstable an operation is the only solution.

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With conservative management female fertility remains unaffected.