Sonographic Detection of a Heterotopic Pregnancy in Natural Conception

Abstract

Visualization of a first trimester pregnancy, whether normal or abnormal, is best done using sonography. Heterotopic pregnancies, the combination of an intrauterine and an extrauterine pregnancy, provide a difficult diagnosis as the intrauterine pregnancy gives a sense of false assurance. This case study presents a spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy with one viable intrauterine pregnancy and one ruptured ectopic pregnancy and discusses the role that sonography plays in the detection and management of this problem.