The Value of Color and Power Doppler in the Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Implantation of the zygote outside the uterine cavity occurs in 2% of all pregnancies. The rate of ectopic pregnancies has increased from 0.5% in 1970 to 2% today. The prevalence of ectopic pregnancy in all women presenting to an emergency department with first-trimester bleeding, lower abdominal pain or a combination of the two is between 6 and 16%. When diagnosis is made early, the product of conception can be removed safely by laparoscopic surgery and be submitted for histological examination. Tubal rupture is a complication of late diagnosed tubal pregnancy which is more difficult to treat conservatively and often indicates tubectomy or segmental resection. In 5 to 15% of treated ectopic pregnancy cases, remnant conception product parts are diagnosed and may require a final methotrexate (MTX) injection. Rare sites of ectopic pregnancy include interstitial, cervical, abdominal and cesarean scar pregnancies. Our manuscript reviews and illustrates the use of novel sonographic methods such as three-dimensional ultrasound, multiplanar view, in combination with color and power Doppler ultrasound, for early detection of ectopic tubal pregnancy and of other, rare locations of ectopic pregnancy. How to cite this article Honemeyer U, Alkatout I, Plavsic SK, Pour-Mirza A, Kurjak A. The Value of Color and Power Doppler in the Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancy. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2013;7(4):429-439.