Ectopic pregnancy and its associated endometrial changes

Three hundred and sixty-five women were operated for ectopic pregnancy at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital in a 13-year period. In all cases, the diagnosis was verified by histological examination. In 245 cases there was curettage material available for histological examination. The slides were reviewed by one pathologist. The most common types of endometrium associated with ectopy were decidual reaction (42%), secretory endometrium (22%) followed by proliferative endometrium (12%). The endometrial changes classically considered as suggestive of ectopic pregnancy were found only in 53% of the cases. The histological examination of all this curettage material reveals a wide variety of endometrial histologies associated with ectopy: any type of endometrium without trophoblasts may be associated with ectopic pregnancy.