Hysterosalpingography and selective salpingography in the differential diagnosis of chemical intrauterine versus tubal pregnancy

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 553 - 558
• Main Authors: Gleicher, Norbert, Parrilli, Michael, Pratt, Donna E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1992; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; chemical pregnancy; Chorionic Gonadotropin - blood; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hysterosalpingography; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Tubal - blood; Pregnancy, Tubal - diagnosis; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Progesterone - blood; selective salpingography; tubal pregnancy; chemical pregnancy; Hysterosalpingography; tubal pregnancy; selective salpingography; Human; Pregnancy disorders; Radiodiagnosis; Female; Diagnosis; Ectopic pregnancy; Fallopian tube; Abortion
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)54899-7

To determine the validity of hystersalpingography (HSG) and/or bilateral selective salpingography in the differential diagnosis of early (biochemical) intrauterine versus intratubal abortions. The study design involved the performance of HSG and selective salpingography in sequential patients with low declining beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) values. Medical School-affiliated Infertility Center. Four sequential pregnant infertility patients who demonstrated declining β-hCG levels before pregnancy could be confirmed by ultrasound (chemical pregnancies). Three of four patients demonstrated a characteristic tubal opacification pattern in conjunction with a normally appearing endometrial cavity, considered diagnostic of an early tubal pregnancy. In contrast, a missed intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) demonstrated a characteristically abnormal endometrial cavity. Some early (chemical) pregnancy losses are intratubal rather than intrauterine. The correct differential diagnosis of early missed IUPs versus intratubal pregnancies is important because of its prognostic significance.