Coexistence of a heterotopic pregnancy associated with a homolateral ovarian cyst in a patient submitted to elective abortion.

The authors describe the case of a right tubal pregnancy of delayed diagnosis in a 31-year-old nullipara, who was submitted to voluntary termination during the 7th week of pregnancy and who presented a homolateral ovarian cyst. Two weeks later the patient presented pelvic pain and intraperitoneal fluid layer, while plasma beta-hCG was 1,262 IU/ml. The case history was complicated by recent termination surgery and presence of an ovarian cyst, but a plasma beta-hCG assay and transvaginal ultrasonography oriented the diagnosis towards a previously unrevealed heterotopic pregnancy. The fallopian tube and the ovarian cyst were removed by laparoscopy. The case points out to the fact that, though rare, heterotopic pregnancy must always be considered one of the possible complications of spontaneous pregnancy. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel