title: Spontaneous Bilateral Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy: Incidental Finding During Laparoscopy - Brief Report and Review of Literature.
abstract: Objective:Bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancies are rare; the reported incidence is only 1 in 200 000 pregnancies. Detecting bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancy is urgent because of the associated morbidity and mortality. The appropriate fertility-preserving surgery must also be considered, as preservation of both tubes is presumed to offer better fertility prospects.Case Report:A 39-year-old gravida 2, para 1 presented with vaginal bleeding at 8 + 4 weeks of gestation. An approximately 18 mm adnexal mass in the right fallopian tube was detected on ultrasound. Laparoscopy was performed because ectopic pregnancy was suspected. This suspicion was confirmed during laparoscopy; the right fallopian tube was found to contain a mass measuring 20 mm in the isthmic part. Ultrasound of the left fallopian tube also showed a mass in the ampullary region (diameter: 10 mm), also suspicious for ectopic pregnancy. Bilateral salpingotomy was performed laparoscopically. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis.Conclusions for Practice:Although ectopic tubal pregnancy is seen more often after assisted reproductive techniques, bilateral spontaneous ectopic pregnancies must also be considered in other cases. Laparoscopic surgery is effective to confirm the diagnosis and treat heterotopic pregnancies. Further studies will be needed to confirm whether unilateral or bilateral conservative fertility-preserving surgery is more appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abele
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachmann
keywords: assisted reproductive technology (ART); ectopic pregnancy; infertility