Transvaginal sonography and serum hCG in monitoring of presumed ectopic pregnancies selected for expectant management

Abstract

We studied sonographic findings and levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in 71 patients with a presumed ectopic pregnancy, recruited for conservative management, to find out whether these parameters may be useful in monitoring treatment. Patients were selected on the basis of decreasing hCG levels, minimal symptoms and an adnexal mass, suggestive of ectopic pregnancy, of < or = 5 cm at transvaginal sonography. In 49 (69%) patients the ectopic pregnancy resolved spontaneously: the adnexal mass resolved significantly more slowly than did hCG levels. In 22 (31%) of the cases laparoscopy was required after an average of 9 days, because of worsening clinical symptoms. The initial size of the ectopic pregnancy did not significantly differ between the two groups, but it increased constantly in the laparoscopy group. The number of patients with free pelvic fluid also increased significantly in the laparoscopy group, whereas blood flow patterns at admission and during follow-up did not differ between the two groups. A decrease in ectopic pregnancy size at day 7 had a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 100% in predicting spontaneous resolution. Transvaginal sonography monitoring appears useful in recognizing the ectopic pregnancies most likely to resolve spontaneously without complications.