Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Obstetrics (Pregnancy / birth / postnatal period), Ultrasound, Other, Obstetrics
Authors:
J. Alexis, P. Deonarine
DOI:
10.26044/ranzcr2022/R-0054
Background
Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare entity but with potential for significant morbidity and mortality. It is defined as a condition that involves a simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy. Prevalence ranges from 1:30000 in the general population to 1:100 in the context of assisted reproduction (1,2). Anecdotally, in our institution, we have experienced an increasing incidence of heterotopic pregnancies with varying imaging and clinical presentations. This may be due to increasing use of assisted reproductive techniques, fertility or ovarian factors (3). The diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy can be challenging as the entity involves a normal intrauterine gestation. There is a risk of missing the extrauterine pregnancy in the absence of a thorough understanding of the spectrum of heterotopic pregnancy imaging findings. Indeed, the rarity of this entity can lead to reporter bias and result in a hesitancy to make the diagnosis. Understanding of the key imaging findings would help to prevent a missed or overlooked diagnosis, which may lead to delay in treatment and further adverse sequelae.