title: Methotrexate treatment for cervical pregnancy: experience of four cases.
abstract: Although cervical pregnancies account for a very small number of the ectopic pregnancies, they sometimes result in a tragic outcome due to the difficulty of surgical treatment and subsequent intractable hemorrhage. We report our experience with four cases of cervical pregnancy which were treated successfully with methotrexate. All four patients had a history of a previous abortion and two had previously had a cesarean section. High-resolution transabdominal and transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound was used for diagnosis, and the serial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were checked to monitor the therapeutic effect. Hysterectomy was avoided, and the reproductive capability of these patients was preserved. Chemotherapy was well tolerated except for mild stomatitis in one case and a transient elevation of liver enzymes in another case. One patient delivered a healthy female infant two years after treatment. In conclusion, previous curettage and a low segment cesarean section may contribute to the development of a cervical pregnancy. Fortunately, methotrexate therapy offers an effective nonsurgical treatment for this potentially catastrophic condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Juang
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D008727:Methotrexate