Ectopic pregnancy. A recent five-year study and review of the last 50 years' literature.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the past and current clinical and pathologic factors that are responsible for ectopic pregnancy (EP).

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective chart and histopathologic specimen review of 740 cases of EP during a recent, five-year period. Products of conception, as well as 240 cases of concomitant endometrial biopsies, were examined.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation, proportion of patients with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, voluntary interruption of pregnancy (VIP), previous surgery and laterality (right side) of the tubal EP were similar to rates reported in previous studies. Ninety-four percent of the EPs were tubal, and 90% of the tubes exhibited some pathologic changes, including chronic salpingitis (49.5%) and follicular salpingitis (10%), among others. Gestational endometrial patterns were seen in 44% of cases. The corpus luteum of pregnancy was contralateral in 30% of cases in which an ovarian biopsy was performed.

CONCLUSION

The factors classically associated with EP remained similar over a period of about 50 years, although the association with VIP still appears to be controversial. Endometrial curettage alone cannot be used to exclude an EP. Ovum transmigration may play a role in the genesis of EP.