title: Serous culdocentesis in ectopic pregnancy: a report of two cases caused by coexistent corpus luteum cysts.
abstract: Two cases of women with large-volume serous culdocentesis results are presented. Both patients ultimately had ectopic pregnancies diagnosed surgically, and aspiration into coexistent corpus luteum cysts caused the "false-negative" culdocentesis results. The accuracy of culdocentesis and its continued role in the workup of the patient with possible ectopic pregnancy is reviewed. Because the corpus luteum is a cystic structure present in all pregnancies during the first seven weeks, cyst aspiration is always a possibility and should be suspected when large amounts of serous fluid are obtained by culdocentesis. Such results should be considered nondiagnostic and do not exclude a coexistent ectopic pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver General Hospital.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011677:Punctures; D013396:Suction; D014621:Vagina