title: Ruptured heterotopic pregnancy: a case report and brief review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ruptured heterotopic pregnancy as a cause of acute abdomen is not commonly seen. The aim of this case report is to stress the importance of sonographic examination of the pelvic region in all symptomatic patients in the first trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case report of a 23-year-old female with a ruptured heterotopic pregnancy is presented together with a brief review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 23 year old female presented with signs and symptoms of an acute abdomen. She gave a history of 8 weeks amenorrhoea. Ultrasound scan (USS) showed an intra uterine pregnancy coexisting with a tubal pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients with symptoms of abdominal pain and history of amenorrhoea should have a sonographic examination of the pelvic region.
authors.affiliation: Agip Industrial Clinic, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Spiff
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Inimgba
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jamabo
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014463:Ultrasonography