• Users Online: 1817
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
Home About us Editorial board Ahead of print Current issue Search Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
CASE REPORT
Year : 2017  |  Volume : 34  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 73-75

Intramyometrial gestation: A rare localization of ectopic pregnancy


Department of Radiology, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Date of Web Publication26-May-2017

Correspondence Address:
Ravikanth Reddy
Department of Radiology, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru - 560 034, Karnataka
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/TJOG.TJOG_2_17

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Intramyometrial pregnancy is the rarest subtype of ectopic pregnancy. It poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult, and hysterectomy is always required due to the delay in diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can lead to uterine rupture with life threatening hemorrhage. We report a rare case of intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy in a 27-year-old lady, P3L3, with no history of previous abortions. The patient was admitted at 8 weeks of gestation with pelvic pain and hemorrhage. She underwent ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging scans of the pelvis which revealed an intramyometrial ectopic. Findings on diagnostic laparoscopy revealed an asymmetrically enlarged anterior wall of the uterus. Hysteroscopy was performed concurrently demonstrating an empty uterine cavity. Medical management was adopted with methotrexate. She was followed up until the beta-HCG levels returned to the baseline. This case report illustrates the imaging findings of an exceptional case of intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy.

Keywords: Intramyometrial ectopic; magnetic resonance imaging; methotrexate; ultrasound


How to cite this article:
Reddy R. Intramyometrial gestation: A rare localization of ectopic pregnancy. Trop J Obstet Gynaecol 2017;34:73-5

How to cite this URL:
Reddy R. Intramyometrial gestation: A rare localization of ectopic pregnancy. Trop J Obstet Gynaecol [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 28];34:73-5. Available from: https://www.tjogonline.com/text.asp?2017/34/1/73/207085


  Introduction Top


Following fertilization and  Fallopian tube More Details transit, the blastocyst normally implants within the uterine cavity. Implantation at a site other than the uterine cavity is considered ectopic and comprises 1–2% of all first trimester pregnancies.[1] Nearly 95% of ectopic pregnancies are implanted in various segments of the fallopian tube, with the remaining 5% of nontubal pregnancies implanting in the ovary, peritoneal cavity, cervix, or prior cesarean scar. Intramural pregnancy refers to a gestation completely implanted within the myometrium of the uterus separate from the uterine cavity, fallopian tube, or round ligament. This is a very rare location for an ectopic, and less than 50 cases have been reported in the literature (less than 1% of all ectopic pregnancies).[2] These cases are usually complicated by hemorrhage and uterine rupture. Diagnosis is often difficult with the closest differential being hydatiform mole. Diagnostic modalities include ultrasound scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrating myometrium completely surrounding the gestational sac with no communication with the endometrial cavity. No documented case of term pregnancy exists. However, if the diagnosis is made earlier, treatment may be conservative, resulting in the preservation of reproductive potential. Treatment modalities documented in the literature for intramural pregnancy include expectant management, surgical enucleation, uterine artery embolization, systemic or local methotrexate administration, hysterectomy, and intrafetal injection of potassium chloride.[3]


  Case History Top


We report a rare case of intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy in a 27-year-old lady, P3L3, who presented to the emergency department at 8 weeks of gestation with complaints of pelvic pain and hemorrhage not subsiding with medical management. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed an exocentric gestational sac with thick decidual reaction and a “ring of fire” appearance on color Doppler [Figure 1]. Uterine cavity was empty and no adnexal masses were visualized. Furthermore, MRI of the pelvis with contrast was done to confirm the location of the ectopic gestation which revealed a well-defined T1 isointense, T2 hyperintense lesion in the anterior myometrium abutting the junctional zone and showing contrast enhancement [Figure 2]. Endometrial stripe was seen separately with an empty uterine cavity [Figure 3]. Pouch of Douglas had no free fluid. On diagnostic laparoscopy, an asymmetrically enlarged swollen anterior wall of the uterus was seen. Hysteroscopy was performed concurrently demonstrating an empty uterine cavity. Medical management with methotrexate was initiated following confirmation of the diagnosis. Beta-HCG at the time of diagnosis was 9949 mIU/ml. She was followed up until the hormone levels returned to the baseline value of 5 mIU/ml and serial scans showed a healed solid collection.
Figure 1: Transvaginal ultrasound images showing showing “Ring of fire” appearance suggesting hypervascularity of the intramyometrial ectopic

Click here to view
Figure 2: Sagittal T2W spin-echo image image showing well defined hyperintense lesion involving the anterior myometrium

Click here to view
Figure 3: Transabdominal ultrasound images showing well defined lesion in the anterior myometrium with thick decidual reaction. Endometrial stripe is separately visualized with empty uterine cavity

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


Ectopic pregnancy is the most common gynecologic abnormality and emergency that afflicts a potential mother and remains a major cause of mortality worldwide. It comprises 1–2% of all pregnancies with a myriad of locations having a hierarchy of prevalence as well as associated morbidity and mortality.[4] The most common location for ectopic pregnancy continues to be the fallopian tube. Intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy constitutes less than 1% of the total number and is the rarest type. Pathological definition of an intramyometrial pregnancy refers to a conceptus implanting within a myometrium and separated from both the uterine cavity and tubes as well as surrounded by myometrium. Intramyometrial gestation rarely exceeds 12 weeks of gestation with risk of uterine rupture and 2.5% of maternal mortality.[5]

Most common etiological factor is uterine trauma resulting in a sinus tract within the endometrium. Other factors include increased trophoblastic activity and defective decidualization, which allows the conceptus to penetrate the myometrium. Implantation on the focus of adenomyosis may also account for this phenomenon as may serosal implantation of the conceptus following external migration. Other factors such as in-vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, and traumatic factors such as dilatation an curettage (D and C), caesarean section, myomectomy, and manual removal of placenta have also been implicated in the etiology of intramyometrial gestation.[6]

Pelvic pain and uterine bleeding in the presence of a positive pregnancy test are the hallmarks of an ectopic pregnancy. Early diagnosis of intramyometrial gestation is very difficult and is mostly made intraoperatively. Only three cases of intramural pregnancy have been correctly diagnosed preoperatively by ultrasound and one by MRI.[7] A gestational sac completely surrounded by myometrium is the typical ultrasound appearance of an intramural pregnancy. Ultrasound typically shows a gestational sac with thick decidual reaction with a “ring of fire” appearance suggesting hypervascularity, empty uterine cavity, and no adnexal lesions. MRI confirms the location of the gestational sac and demonstrates no communication with the endometrial cavity and provides better visualization of the myometrium and endometrium separately. Some authors have reported the use of hysteroscopy, which allows direct visualization of the uterine cavity and tubal ostium and confirms the absence of the conceptus in the uterine cavity. Serial beta-HCG assay has been reported to be useful for the diagnosis.[8]

Prognosis is very poor for fetuses in intramyometrial pregnancies. Treatment options depend on the time of diagnosis. In a hemodynamically stable patient who wants a future pregnancy, this condition can be managed conservatively by local administration of KCL or methotrexate or by systemic methotrexate either in single dose or as multiple dose regimen. Nonradical surgical management by enucleation or wedge resection with myometrial reconstruction can be performed. Uterine rupture with hemodynamic instability warrants a hysterectomy.


  Conclusion Top


Intramyometrial gestation is a very rare type of ectopic gestation and is a life-threatening condition. Early detection of intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy is needed to prevent complications such as uterine rupture and helps preserve fertility. The closest differential diagnosis is hydatiform mole. Transvaginal ultrasound determines the localization of the gestational sac and choice of management.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Larraín D, Marengo F, Bourdel N, Jaffeux P, Aublet-Cuvelier B, Pouly JL, et al. Proximal ectopic pregnancy: A descriptive general population-based study and results of different management options in 86 cases. Feril Steril 2011;95:867-71.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Boukhanni L, Benkaddour YA, Bassir A, Aboulfalah A, Asmouki H, Soummani A, et al. Case Report A Rare Localization of Ectopic Pregnancy: Intramyometrial Pregnancy in Twin Pregnancy following IVF. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol 2014;2014:10-2.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Verghese T, Wahba K, Shah A. An interesting case of intramyometrial pregnancy. BMJ Case Rep 2016;2012-4.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Maria L, Pirollo A, Larciprete G, Valli E, Montagnoli C, Campora G De, et al. Unusual ectopic pregnancy: beyond the tubes. EC Gynaecology 2016;1.1S1:12-22.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Kirk E, Bottomley C, Bourne T. Diagnosing ectopic pregnancy and current concepts in the management of pregnancy of unknown location. Hum Reprod Update 2014;20:250-61.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Çalifikan E, Lu Ç, Çorakçi A. Expectant Management of an Intramural Ectopic Pregnancy in a Primigravid Woman. J Turk German Gynecol Assoc 2008;9:234-6.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Leyder M, Vos M De, Dujardin M, Devroey P. Intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy in an ICSI patient following uterine artery embolization. Reprod Biomed Online 2010;20:831-5.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Marotta M, Donnez J, Michaux N, Dupont M, Delos M, Donnez O, et al. Spontaneous intramyometrial pregnancy mimicking an intramural myoma: A diagnostic challenge. Gynecol Surg 2016;6-7.  Back to cited text no. 8
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]


This article has been cited by
1 Uterine-conserving approach in ruptured intramyometrial ectopic pregnancy
Loh Sweet Yi Esther,Kah Teik Chew,Rahana Abd Rahman,Ani Amelia Zainuddin,Erica Yee Hing,Nirmala Kampan
Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation. 2020; 0(0)
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Scar Pregnancy: A Case Series Involving Two Medical College Hospitals in West Bengal
Indranil Dutta,Mainak Nath,Abhijit Haldar
Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2020; 12(1): 51
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Case History
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed6094    
    Printed319    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded303    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 2    

Recommend this journal


[TAG2]
[TAG3]
[TAG4]