Histopathologic study of ampullary and isthmic tubal ectopic pregnancy

A histopathologic study of 84 ampullary and seven isthmic tubal ectopic pregnancies was conducted. In 52.2% of ampullary pregnancies, the gestations were found intraluminally, and in most of these cases (85.1%), the muscularis was preserved. In isthmic pregnancies, the gestations were usually found extraluminally or both intraluminally and extraluminally. The disruption of the tubal wall was more extensive in isthmic pregnancy. This study suggests that in isthmic pregnancy, the trophoblast penetrates the tubal wall relatively early. It appears that linear salpingostomy could be done for ampullary pregnancy without jeopardizing luminal integrity. Its use for isthmic pregnancy is still unclear.