Ultrasound studies in ectopic pregnancies

Early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy reduces the mortality and morbidity associated with the disease, and the morbidity associated with the therapy. When diagnosis was limited to the cases presenting with tubal rupture, salpingectomy was the only possible treatment. If ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed earlier, clinicians are able to use new therapies such as laparoscopic microsurgery or medical therapy with methrotrexate, which are less invasive and less tissue destructive. Transvaginal ultrasound has proven to be an essential tool in the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Colour Doppler capacities further enhance the diagnostic sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasound for the early recognition of abnormal and normal intrauterine pregnancy, and small extrauterine masses. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the major sonographic signs and pitfalls in the ultrasound diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.