Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Ectopic pregnancy can be challenging to diagnose based on symptoms alone because symptoms may not always be obvious.
Early diagnosis is essential, though as an untreated ectopic pregnancy can result in a ruptured fallopian tube, resulting in serious complications for the pregnant person. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. For this reason, ectopic pregnancy is also sometimes referred to as a tubal pregnancy.
When an ectopic pregnancy develops undetected for too long, it can become life-threatening for the pregnant person. The main risk is that the fallopian tube can rupture, which can cause severe internal bleeding.
Doctors must perform emergency surgery if your fallopian tube ruptures. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can be easy to miss. Often early signs mimic early pregnancy signs. Your doctor may suspect ectopic pregnancy if a pelvic exam reveals an abnormal lump in the tubal area or if you have unusual abdominal pain or tenderness. Early symptoms of ectopic pregnancy may include:. Symptoms of potential rupture may include:. A ruptured fallopian tube is a medical emergency. If you are pregnant and have severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, or dizziness, go to the emergency room or call If your doctor suspects an ectopic pregnancy, they may run tests to confirm or rule it out.
The diagnosis includes a combination of hCG level testing and ultrasound. In an uncomplicated, early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double every couple of days. The hCG levels in an ectopic pregnancy often rise slower than usual, meaning they will not double every two to three days in early pregnancy. Slowly rising hCG levels may be the first clue that leads a doctor to investigate the possibility of tubal pregnancy.
Slow-rising hCG can also occasionally occur in a viable pregnancy, but it can also indicate a first-trimester miscarriage. HCG levels on their own cannot confirm an ectopic pregnancy. Citation, DOI and article data. Gaillard, F. Ectopic pregnancy. Reference article, Radiopaedia. Obstetrics , Gynaecology. Ectopic pregnancies Extrauterine gestation Extra-uterine gestation Ectopic. URL of Article. On this page:. Article: Epidemiology Clinical presentation Pathology Radiographic features Treatment and prognosis Differential diagnosis Related articles References Images: Cases and figures Imaging differential diagnosis.
Quiz questions. Ralph Weissleder. Patricia Chudleigh, Basky Thilaganathan. Obstetric Ultrasound: How, Why and When. Levine D. Ectopic Pregnancy. Sonography of Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies. Diagnostic Clues to Ectopic Pregnancy. Acad Emerg Med. Chandrasekhar C. Ectopic Pregnancy: A Pictorial Review. Clin Imaging. Heterotopic Pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol. J Ultrasound Med. Government of Western Australia: Suspected ectopic pregnancy Diagnostic imaging pathway.
Related articles: Pathology: Genitourinary. Promoted articles advertising. Unfortunately, ectopic pregnancies almost never result in a liveborn baby. In Australia most ectopic pregnancies are detected and treated early, before they become dangerous for the pregnant woman. But if left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can rupture and this can be dangerous due to the risk of bleeding. Trans-vaginal ultrasound examination is the best way to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy.
However occasionally the ectopic pregnancy is too small to be detected with ultrasound examination. Sometimes serial beta HCG blood levels and serial ultrasound examinations are required until the gestation sac gets big enough to see.
Sometimes there are other signs on ultrasound examination which are so suspicious of an ectopic pregnancy that your Ultrasound Care obstetrician will suggest a laparoscopy in order to see under direct vision. There are several different ways to treat an ectopic pregnancy. The best approach will depend on the gestation of the pregnancy, what sort of symptoms you have and what sort of previous surgery you have had.
Options include surgical approaches like laparotomy or laparoscopy, with removal of the ectopic pregnancy. Depending on the extent of damage to the Fallopian tube, it may also need to be removed. Medical treatment, using medication to stop the gestation from growing may also be possible in certain cases.
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