Laparoscopic management of a heterotopic cornual pregnancy following first-trimester miscarriage – A case report and literature review
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Heterotopic pregnancies, defined by the simultaneous occurrence of an intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy, present a rare but potentially life-threatening diagnostic and surgical challenge. Heterotopic pregnancy is rare in spontaneously conceived pregnancies; however, a dramatic rise in the incidence is observed in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures. Moreover, cornual localization comprises only a minority of ectopic cases yet bears the highest maternal mortality rate due to the risk of catastrophic hemorrhage. This report presents the case of a 33-year-old woman with a confirmed first-trimester miscarriage who remained asymptomatic but demonstrated persistently elevated β-hCG levels. Transvaginal ultrasonography identified a right cornual ectopic pregnancy. Laparoscopic wedge resection was performed with the preservation of uterine anatomy. This case illustrates a critical vulnerability in the follow-up of early pregnancy loss, where residual or ectopic trophoblastic tissue may be misattributed to a slowly resolving miscarriage. It reinforces the value of repeat imaging and surveillance of β-hCG when clinical resolution is incomplete. This report presents one of the first documented cases of asymptomatic, spontaneously conceived heterotopic cornual pregnancy managed laparoscopically in the Caribbean; it contributes to the evolving literature on heterotopic pregnancies in low-risk women and supports early surgical intervention to preserve reproductive potential.
Source: Case Reports in Women s Health
Authors: Vishal Bahall, Reiaz Mohammed, Lance De Barry
Institution: San Fernando General Hospital
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,080
OpenAlex ID: W4413422505