A case of spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy presenting with heart activity of both embryos.

Jeon, Hyun Soo; Shin, Hyun Jun; Kim, Ick Hee; Chung, Doo Yong

doi:2012.55.5.339

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 55(5); 2012 > Article

In Vitro

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2012;55(5):339-342.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.5.339 Published online May 16, 2012.

A case of spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy presenting with heart activity of both embryos.

Hyun Soo Jeon, Hyun Jun Shin, Ick Hee Kim, Doo Yong Chung

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, Korea. dychung@kku.ac.kr
²Department of Radiology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, Korea.
³Department of Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, Korea.

Abstract

Heterotopic pregnancy, combined intrauterine and extra-uterine (ectopic) pregnancy, is a potentially fatal condition that rarely occurs in natural conception cycle. There has been a rise of this entity mainly due to ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization performed in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology. Diagnosis is often delayed causing life threatening situations, since heterotopic pregnancy is still rare and unexpected in natural conception. We report a case of patient with spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy in the first trimester with a review of the literature. Transvaginal ultrasound confirmed heart activity of both embryos in uterus and the right ampulla portion.

Key Words: Spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy, Fetal heart activity, Transvaginal ultrasound