title: The multiple ultrasound patterns of ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) has a variable and misleading clinical presentation contributing to the confusion with medical or other gynecological disorders. The rapid recourse to diagnostic methods, human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) titers and transvaginal ultrasonography, represents the best approach not only in the early diagnosis but also in the management and monitoring of patients with diagnosed EP. The purpose of this article is to provide a pictorial essay about EP and its multiple ultrasound (US) patterns. We present a large spectrum of EP aspects diagnosed on US and confirmed by pathology. We also review miscellaneous gynecologic diseases that may mimic EP on US. Although endovaginal US combined with quantitative (beta-hCG) analysis is an excellent tool for identifying EP, it may be normal sometimes in early pregnancies. Knowledge of all these patterns is helpful in establishing an early correct diagnosis, therefore leading to elective and conservative management in stable patients and preventing tubal rupture or substantial hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, CHU Hôtel-Dieu de France, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Roula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hourani
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hachem
authors.forename: Soha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddad-Zebouni
authors.forename: Fersan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Abdo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elhage
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Checrallah
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghossain
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019160:Endosonography; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin