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Ectopic pregnancies are extremely rare causing severe consequences such as uterine rupture and may lead to death. The clinical symptomatology is very atypical, essentially pelvic pain and metrorrhagia, for this reason, a misdiagnosis can be fatal. Here we report two cases of an intramural pregnancy in a 33-year-old primigravida at 6 weeks gestation after a medically assisted reproduction and a 26-year-old primigravida at 8 weeks gestation with no predisposing factors, making the diagnosis more challenging.

Intramural pregnancies (IMP) are very rare and represent about 1% of ectopic pregnancies (EPs). Despite a few reported cases, there is limited awareness & knowledge among sonographers and physicians. Moreover, no established diagnostic or treatment protocol exists for such a condition. This study identifies and synthesizes what is known about IMP, including etiology and pathophysiology, common clinical presentations, imaging features, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic findings, and management. PUBMED and Google Scholar were queried to identify eligible studies. All articles on IMP in human subjects available in English and French languages were included. Other types of ectopic pregnancies, including cesarean scar and cervical ectopic pregnancies, were excluded. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and a narrative synthesis approach were used to systematically review the medical literature. 82 cases distributed around 27 countries with an average maternal age of 32.07 years and gestational age of 9.27 weeks were eventually selected for this study. History of curettage was the most common risk factor reported in 30 (36.58%) patients, followed by history of salpingectomy, assisted reproduction with embryo transfer, and previous cesarean delivery, in 10(12.19%), 10(12.19%), and 9(10.97%) patients respectively. Ultrasound was performed in 80(97.56%) cases. Of the 66 reported ultrasound findings, 29 were diagnostic or suggestive of IMP. MRI, laparoscopy (both diagnostic & surgical) and diagnostic hysteroscopy were carried out on 18(21.95%), 36(43.9%) and 22(26.83%) patients respectively. Histopathologic examination mainly performed after surgery was the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis. Management involved conservative (3.65%) approach, medical treatment with methotrexate or potassium chloride (23.17%), and surgical interventions. The latter includes laparoscopic surgery (25.61%), laparotomic surgery (23.17%), and hysterectomy (13.41%). IMP is a rare but potentially lethal clinical entity. A significant proportion of patients are asymptomatic and have no known risk factors. Correlation between clinical history and imaging findings is vital to establish a prompt diagnosis and reduce the risk of a catastrophic outcome.

Objective: To describe the clinical and sonographic characteristics of intramural pregnancy, as well as the available management options and treatment outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective single‐center study of consecutive patients with a sonographic diagnosis of intramural pregnancy between November 2008 and November 2022. An intramural pregnancy was diagnosed on ultrasound when a pregnancy was implanted within the uterine corpus, above the level of the internal cervical os and separate from the interstitial section of the Fallopian tube, and extended beyond the decidual–myometrial junction. Clinical, ultrasound, relevant surgical and histological information and outcomes were retrieved from each patient's record and analyzed. Results: Eighteen patients were diagnosed with an intramural pregnancy during the study period. Their median age was 35 (range, 28–43) years and the median gestational age at diagnosis was 8 + 1 (range, 5 + 5 to 12 + 0) weeks. Vaginal bleeding with or without abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom, recorded in eight patients. Nine (50%) patients had a partial and nine (50%) had a complete intramural pregnancy. Embryonic cardiac activity was present in eight (44%) pregnancies. The majority of pregnancies (n = 10 (56%)) were initially managed conservatively, including expectant management in eight (44%) cases, local injection of methotrexate in one (6%) and embryocide in one (6%). Conservative management was successful in nine of the 10 (90%) pregnancies, with a median time to serum human chorionic gonadotropin resolution of 71 (range, 35–143) days. One patient with an ongoing live pregnancy had an emergency hysterectomy for a major vaginal bleed at 20 weeks' gestation. No other patient managed conservatively experienced any significant complication. The remaining eight (44%) patients had primary surgical treatment, comprising transcervical suction curettage in seven (88%) of these cases, while one patient presented with uterine rupture and underwent emergency laparoscopy and repair. Conclusions: We describe the ultrasound features of partial and complete intramural pregnancy, demonstrating key diagnostic features. Our series suggests that, when intramural pregnancy is diagnosed before 12 weeks' gestation, it can be managed either conservatively or by surgery, with preservation of reproductive function in most women. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramural pregnancy is a special type of ectopic pregnancy that is extremely rare in clinic. If the pregnancy continues to second or third trimester of pregnancy, it is very likely to lead to uterine rupture, severe hemorrhage, shock, loss of fertility, and even fatal in severe cases. A case of an intramural pregnancy patient with uterine rupture at 19 weeks was reported. Combined with related case reports, firstly the initial abdominal pain of pregnancy was considered, and then it might be uterine rupture, finally the surgical and postoperative review analysis verified that it was intramural pregnancy rupture. By reviewing the diagnosis and treatment of this patient, summarizing and reviewing relevant literatures, we will strengthen the understanding of such rare pregnancy in order to detect, identify and treat this rare pregnancy earlier, so as to improve the adverse pregnancy outcomes of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramural pregnancy is a very rare form of ectopic gestation. There are very few cases published in the literature. The management strategies differ with respect to severity of presentation, average gestational age, and viability of the pregnancy at the time of diagnosis. Here, we report a case of intramural pregnancy, which was managed conservatively with review of data on this rare condition, with respect to its etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Uterine rupture in all layers is not only a serious complication of pregnancy but is also associated with maternal and fetal mortality. The usual treatment for uterine rupture is termination of pregnancy, and hysterectomy is necessary in most cases. Successful repair of uterine rupture in all layers is not only uncommon but successful subsequent pregnancy is quite rare. A successful pregnancy is reported in a woman with a history of complete uterine rupture due to intramural pregnancy. CASE REPORT: A 28 – year – old pregnant woman, gravida 4, with a history of two abortions, and one delivery (stillbirth) was admitted to the high-risk pregnancy unit of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital (Babol, Iran). She had a history of rupture of all layers of the uterus following intramural pregnancy in her third pregnancy, and at that time, she had undergone laparotomy and repair of the uterus. In the fourth pregnancy, due to the history of uterine rupture, she was under prenatal care in high-risk pregnancy unit, and after the onset of contractions at 36 weeks and 2 days, emergency cesarean section was performed for the patient, and the neonate was born with 10/10 APGAR score and a weight of 3000 grams. CONCLUSION: In women who become pregnant after a history of rupture of all layers of the uterus and after the repair of uterine, prenatal and fetal care should be done carefully and cesarean section should be performed immediately after the onset of labor contractions.

A 30-year-old G4P1+2(1 alive) woman with a history of cervical incompetence initially presented at a gestational age (GA) of 10 weeks and 6 days with lower abdominal pain and was managed conservatively as a case of threatened miscarriage. She re-presented two weeks later and was admitted on account of lower abdominal pain and spotting per vagina of 4hrs duration. An obstetric ultrasound revealed an intrauterine pregnancy invading the posterior myometrium with thinning of the uterine wall and hemoperitoneum. She subsequently had an exploratory laparotomy, evacuation of the hemoperitoneum, separation of the fetus from the myometrium, and repair with no. 2 vicryl suture. The patient recovered satisfactorily and had two units of whole blood transfused. She was managed with analgesics, hematinics and broad-spectrum antibiotics. She was discharged on the 4th post-operative day to be followed up at the gynaecological clinic., Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists, (Copyright © 2024 by West African Journal of Medicine.)

Background: Intramural ectopic pregnancy is defined as the gestational sac (GS) is entirely within the myometrium, separate from the endometrial cavity and fallopian tubes, which is unsustainable and potentially life-threatening. The data investigating the clinical characteristics, management strategy, and fertility outcomes after treatment of intramural ectopic pregnancies are very limited due to its extreme rarity.Methods: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment options, and fertility outcomes in patients with intramural ectopic pregnancy, a retrospective study included 56 patients was conducted. We also used logistic regression to identify potential risk factors for uterine rupture and hysterectomy in these patients.Results: The mean age of patients was 31.1 years, with an average gestational age (GA) of 10.0 weeks, and the majority of the patient cohort (83.9%) had uterine or endometrial surgical history. 55.4% of the intramural pregnancy was diagnosed by preoperative imaging examination and 67.7% was detected by ultrasound. There was no dominant predisposed zone of the GS. Common treatment strategies included laparotomy surgery (41.1%) and laparoscopic surgery (35.7%), followed by methotrexate (7.1%) and expectant management (5.4%). Uterine rupture occurred in 9 patients and 8 patients underwent a hysterectomy, but no maternal demise was found. Logistic regression showed that a GA >10 weeks predicted a significantly higher risk of uterine rupture (Odds ratio [OR] 8.000, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.456–43.966, P = 0.017) and hysterectomy (OR 12.333, 95% CI 2.125–71.565, P = 0.005), and GS located in the fundus also predicted higher probability of uterine rupture (OR 7.000,95% CI 1.271–38.543, P = 0.025). Among the ten patients who had a desire for fertility, 6 of them succeeded and 4 of them successfully delivered with a GA ≥ 34 weeks.Conclusion: GA > 10 weeks was the risk factor for both uterine rupture and hysterectomy, while patients with GS located in the uterine fundus had a significantly higher risk of uterine rupture. The fertility outcomes were moderate after treatment. The management strategies should be individualized according to disease conditions and the desire for fertility, and early diagnosis is essential for optimizing clinical outcomes.

Intramural pregnancy refers to the implantation of fertilized eggs in uterine musculature, separated from the uterine cavity and tube. We report a case of intramural pregnancy previously misdiagnosed as retained products of conception and gestational trophoblastic disease. This case highlights the difficulty in the diagnosis of intramural pregnancy. Clinicians should be clear about the risk factors of the disease. Judicious selection of the appropriate imaging modalities is vital to making an accurate diagnosis and providing effective treatment.

A 24-year-old woman, who had undergone neither fertility treatment nor uterine surgery other than a cesarean section, presented with an intramural ectopic pregnancy. A laparotomy with uterine wedge resection including the embryonic tissue was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, with falling βHCG levels. Two months after surgery she presented again with an intrauterine pregnancy.

Objective: Intramural pregnancy (IMP) is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy and potentially fatal. Early diagnosis and management of IMP are important to preserve patient fertility. Here, we describe the use of minimally-invasive surgery for early IMP.Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of eight patients with IMP treated at our center (January 2010 to December 2018) and reviewed the literature describing minimally-invasive treatment of IMP.Results: All eight patients had at least one risk factor for IMP. Two cases were confirmed by ultrasound, but ectopic pregnancy or gestational trophoblastic disease were initially suspected in the other cases. Surgery (laparoscopic in three patients, hysteroscopic in one patient, and laparoscopic combined with hysteroscopic in four patients) was successful in all cases, and all patients recovered well without complications. The literature review identified 14 articles describing 17 cases of IMP managed with minimally-invasive surgery. Laparoscopic surgery was used successfully as a sole treatment in 10 cases and after failure of hysteroscopic surgery in six cases. Only one case was treated with a combination of hysteroscopic surgery and methotrexate. Interestingly, one case at our center presented with a sinus connecting the gestational sac and uterine cavity and was treated successfully using hysteroscopic surgery during early pregnancy.Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery is a feasible management option for most cases of early IMP. Hysteroscopic surgery may be appropriate for cases where a sinus connects the gestational sac with the uterine cavity or when cornual ectopic pregnancy needs to be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intramural pregnancy is an uncommon type of ectopic pregnancy, where the gestational sac is completely encircled by myometrium and unconnected with endometrial cavity, fallopian tubes or round ligament. Owing to its potentially life-threatening hemorrhage and uterine rupture, early diagnosis and management are urgently required. We present a case of a woman undergoing zigzag medical procedures, which featured non-consensus preoperative diagnosis of intramural and interstitial pregnancy and an intramural ectopic pregnancy ultimately confirmed and successfully removed by emergency laparoscopy. Additionally, we present a review of the related literature and discuss its varied clinical features, imageological characters, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and multiple treatments.Methods: A comprehensive bibliographic search through PubMed, using keywords: intramural ectopic pregnancy. Relevant literatures published from January 2013 to April 2019 were reviewed.Results: Twenty-four cases in total for intramural ectopic pregnancy including this report were reviewed. Diagnoses were mainly made by ultrasound images. Most patients had a history of uterine surgery or intrauterine operation and had been surgically resected. None of the mothers were in danger, but only one case had live birth at 37 weeks of gestation.Conclusion: Non-specific clinical presentation and non-uniform ultrasound criteria pose a challenge for us to make timely and accurate management. Integrated radiological examinations and communication and cooperation between sonographers and gynecologists play a vital role in diagnostic accuracy and selecting the optimal therapeutic method of an intramural pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramural pregnancies (IMP) are very rare and represent about 1% of ectopic pregnancies (EPs). Despite a few reported cases, there is limited awareness & knowledge among sonographers and physicians. Moreover, no established diagnostic or treatment protocol exists for such a condition. This study identifies and synthesizes what is known about IMP, including etiology and pathophysiology, common clinical presentations, imaging features, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic findings, and management. PUBMED and Google Scholar were queried to identify eligible studies. All articles on IMP in human subjects available in English and French languages were included. Other types of ectopic pregnancies, including cesarean scar and cervical ectopic pregnancies, were excluded. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and a narrative synthesis approach were used to systematically review the medical literature. 82 cases distributed around 27 countries with an average maternal age of 32.07 years and gestational age of 9.27 weeks were eventually selected for this study. History of curettage was the most common risk factor reported in 30 (36.58%) patients, followed by history of salpingectomy, assisted reproduction with embryo transfer, and previous cesarean delivery, in 10(12.19%), 10(12.19%), and 9(10.97%) patients respectively. Ultrasound was performed in 80(97.56%) cases. Of the 66 reported ultrasound findings, 29 were diagnostic or suggestive of IMP. MRI, laparoscopy (both diagnostic & surgical) and diagnostic hysteroscopy were carried out on 18(21.95%), 36(43.9%) and 22(26.83%) patients respectively. Histopathologic examination mainly performed after surgery was the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis. Management involved conservative (3.65%) approach, medical treatment with methotrexate or potassium chloride (23.17%), and surgical interventions. The latter includes laparoscopic surgery (25.61%), laparotomic surgery (23.17%), and hysterectomy (13.41%). IMP is a rare but potentially lethal clinical entity. A significant proportion of patients are asymptomatic and have no known risk factors. Correlation between clinical history and imaging findings is vital to establish a prompt diagnosis and reduce the risk of a catastrophic outcome., Competing Interests: All three authors have NO conflict of interest to declare., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Intramural pregnancy refers to the implantation of fertilized eggs in uterine musculature, separated from the uterine cavity and tube. We report a case of intramural pregnancy previously misdiagnosed as retained products of conception and gestational trophoblastic disease. This case highlights the difficulty in the diagnosis of intramural pregnancy. Clinicians should be clear about the risk factors of the disease. Judicious selection of the appropriate imaging modalities is vital to making an accurate diagnosis and providing effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myomectomy scar pregnancy is a rare form of intramural pregnancy in which the gestational sac is implanted within the myometrium, separate from the endometrial cavity and fallopian tubes and in the previous myomectomy scar. This review was written to increase awareness about the rare complication of intramural scar pregnancy after myomectomy. Illustrated by a case report of a myomectomy scar pregnancy following laparoscopic myomectomy, the review covers 3 cases reported in the literature. Illustrative Case: A 31-year-old female, gravida 3, with a history of myomectomy presented to the Centre for Advanced Endoscopy and Infertility of Paul's Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, India, at 9 weeks of gestation for confirmation of fetal viability. A transvaginal ultrasound scan indicated that there was a potential left interstitial pregnancy. However, laparoscopy revealed that this patient actually had an intramural pregnancy in her previous myomectomy scar. This patient's condition was managed successfully via laparoscopy. Results: An electronic database search yielded 68 cases of intramural scar pregnancy. However, only 3 cases of intramural scar pregnancies after myomectomy were identified. Conclusion: An unusual location of an early pregnancy on TVS should raise the suspicion of myomectomy scar ectopic pregnancy in a woman with a previous myomectomy. (J GYNECOL SURG 34:53) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramural pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy, where the gestational sac is implanted inside the myometrium instead of the endometrial and fallopian tubes. Preoperative diagnosis remains very difficult. Ultrasonic findings vary according to the anatomical location or duration of pregnancy. In this study, we summarized the ultrasonic characteristics of intramural pregnancy by assessing three cases. We also propose a set of ultrasonic characteristics to facilitate differential diagnosis between intramural pregnancy and other types of ectopic pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the clinical features， relevant risk factors, differential diagnosis and treatment of the intramural pregnancy. Methods：Retrospective analysis of the surgery history, clinical features, auxiliary examination, diagnosis, treatment process and pathologic results on 4 patients admitted to our hospital with intramural pregnancy in 5 years. To understand the risk factors, differential diagnosis and treatment of the intramural pregnancy. Results：Four patients all belonged to the mass type of the intramural pregnancy. B-mode MRI diagnoses pregnancy in uterine horn and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. All of the four patients accept hysteroscopy combined with laparoscopy surgery and supervise hCG concentration dropping to the normal level. Conclusions：In the clinical medicine, doctor should pay attention to the patient of incomplete abortion with hCG not dropping to the normal level or increasing, vaginal bleeding and B-mode ultrasound and MRI showing mesometrium mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Intramural pregnancy is the rarest type of ectopic pregnancy and its diagnosis is usually not made until surgery. This case of intramural pregnancy had an unusual course and an ultrasound appearance not previously reported. Case Report: A 29-year-old woman presented with vaginal bleeding. Ultrasound revealed an empty uterus and a heterogeneous mass at the fundus that displayed prominent blood flow on color Doppler and power Doppler ultrasound. Initial serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level was 441 mIU/mL and dropped to 295 mIU/mL 2 days later. The woman, however, had heavy vaginal bleeding on the following day. The mass was excised at emergency laparotomy. The pathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of intramural pregnancy. Conclusion: Intramural pregnancy may appear as a heterogeneous mass with prominent blood flow on Doppler ultrasound. The possibility of rupture should be kept in mind even if serum β-hCG is low and keeps falling.

ABSTRACT Intramural pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, and little is known about its etiology, prevalence and natural history. There is no consensus regarding the ultrasound criteria necessary for the diagnosis of intramural pregnancy, and management strategies vary depending on the severity of clinical presentation, exact location of the pregnancy, viability and gestational age at diagnosis. We present four cases of intramural pregnancy diagnosed in a single institution that illustrate variability in their clinical presentation and difficulty in reaching the correct diagnosis. We also propose a set of ultrasound criteria to facilitate differential diagnosis between intramural and other types of uterine ectopic pregnancy. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Intramural pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, wherein the fetus is implanted within the myometrium, separate from the endometrial cavity. In the early reported cases, a diagnosis was only possible after an operation for uterine rupture; however, recent developments in ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging assist in early diagnosis. Early diagnosis prevents potential life-threatening hemorrhage and preserves fertility. Both medical therapy and surgery are used to treat intramural pregnancy: surgery is often performed via laparotomy and includes hysterectomy. Here, we report the first case of successfully combining hysteroscopy and laparoscopy in the early diagnosis and management of intramural pregnancy. Our experience reveals that the minimally invasive procedure is safe and effective in select cases where advanced endoscopic expertise is available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 38-year-old woman presented for early pregnancy ultrasound scanning 6 weeks and 4 days following an assisted reproduction treatment cycle. She had ß human chorionic gonadotrophin (ßhCG) blood level of 10,853 IU/L 2 weeks before presentation. She gave previous history of termination of pregnancy, myomectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. The uterus was retroverted with multiple fibroids and non-homogenous myometrium in many areas. The endometrium was 21.1 mm thick with no intrauterine pregnancy. An initial diagnosis of cornual/interstitial ectopic pregnancy was made. However, 3D images rendering and the multiplanar technique showed a 27.5-mm gestation sac, medial and above the interstitial part of the right tube, with 7.6-mm-long foetal pole. ßhCG and progesterone blood levels on the same day were 19,551 IU/L and 43.2 nmol/l, respectively. The patient opted against methotrexate treatment. An ectopic pregnancy bulging out of the fundal area was excised laparoscopically. Histopathological assessment showed chorionic villi surrounded by myometrium, as well as foci of adenomyosis, reaching the outer serosa. To our knowledge, this is the second case of subserosal intramural ectopic pregnancy to be reported and the first in a subserosal area of adenomyosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intramural ectopic pregnancy is defined as the gestational sac (GS) is entirely within the myometrium, separate from the endometrial cavity and fallopian tubes, which is unsustainable and potentially life-threatening. The data investigating the clinical characteristics, management strategy, and fertility outcomes after treatment of intramural ectopic pregnancies are very limited due to its extreme rarity. Methods: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment options, and fertility outcomes in patients with intramural ectopic pregnancy, a retrospective study included 56 patients was conducted. We also used logistic regression to identify potential risk factors for uterine rupture and hysterectomy in these patients. Results: The mean age of patients was 31.1 years, with an average gestational age (GA) of 10.0 weeks, and the majority of the patient cohort (83.9%) had uterine or endometrial surgical history. 55.4% of the intramural pregnancy was diagnosed by preoperative imaging examination and 67.7% was detected by ultrasound. There was no dominant predisposed zone of the GS. Common treatment strategies included laparotomy surgery (41.1%) and laparoscopic surgery (35.7%), followed by methotrexate (7.1%) and expectant management (5.4%). Uterine rupture occurred in 9 patients and 8 patients underwent a hysterectomy, but no maternal demise was found. Logistic regression showed that a GA >10 weeks predicted a significantly higher risk of uterine rupture (Odds ratio [OR] 8.000, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.456-43.966, P = 0.017) and hysterectomy (OR 12.333, 95% CI 2.125-71.565, P = 0.005), and GS located in the fundus also predicted higher probability of uterine rupture (OR 7.000,95% CI 1.271-38.543, P = 0.025). Among the ten patients who had a desire for fertility, 6 of them succeeded and 4 of them successfully delivered with a GA ≥ 34 weeks. Conclusion: GA > 10 weeks was the risk factor for both uterine rupture and hysterectomy, while patients with GS located in the uterine fundus had a significantly higher risk of uterine rupture. The fertility outcomes were moderate after treatment. The management strategies should be individualized according to disease conditions and the desire for fertility, and early diagnosis is essential for optimizing clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Chen, Gao, Yu, Liu, Kong and Li.)