Do you need to definitively diagnose the location of a pregnancy of unknown location? The case for "yes".
Pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) is a common diagnostic challenge. The primary diagnostic goal is to ensure that the PUL is nonviable prior to proceeding with any invasive procedures. In nonviable PUL, there are several diagnostic and treatment strategies, which are generally quite safe. However, the management option that provides the most definite diagnosis is uterine curettage. We advocate use of uterine curettage in all cases of nonviable PUL because it limits exposure to a chemotherapeutic agent to only those who need it and it allows for the most accurate information for counseling the patient on prognosis of future pregnancies.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Lauren
L
Rubal
Karine
K
Chung
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003376:Counseling; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D008727:Methotrexate