Diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas of cervical ectopic pregnancy

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Cervical pregnancy is a rare variety of ectopic pregnancy. The etiology is obscure. Its diagnosis may be difficult, and its management has enormously changed during the last 10 years. Unfortunately, the most effective, fertility-sparing treatment is still unclear until now. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of different treatment modalities of cervical pregnancy. Evidence Acquisition: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was performed using the electronic databases MEDLINE and PubMed, using key words cervical, ectopic, and pregnancy, between January 2005 and June 2013. We included all case reports and case series reporting on cervical ectopic pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 252 cases of cervical ectopic pregnancy were analyzed. Eighty-eight cases (34.9%) had medical treatment, 69 cases (27.5%) had surgical treatment, and 95 cases (37.6%) had combined medical and surgical treatment. Various conservative treatment regimens have been introduced to preserve fertility in young women, with methotrexate being one of the most widely used and effective drugs. CONCLUSIONS and Relevance: A high index of suspicion, combined with meticulous review of clinical and radiological findings, is essential to make an accurate diagnosis of cervical pregnancy. The success of conservative treatment depends mainly on early diagnosis. Such cases would be best managed at specialist tertiary referral centers and preferably, where available, Early Pregnancy Assessment Units, whether medical, surgical, or combined treatment modalities were attempted. Target Audience: Obstetricians, gynecologists, family physicians Learning Objectives: After participating in this activity, physicians should be better able to identify the most likely predisposing factors for cervical ectopic pregnancy, appraise different modalities of treatment, and apply the selection criteria for conservative management of cervical ectopic pregnancy. © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.