The diagnostic conundrum of chronic ectopic pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

Chronic ectopic pregnancy (CEP) is a rare condition caused by implantation of trophoblastic tissue in the fallopian tube, which causes protracted tissue destruction at the site of attachment. The process of minor rupture and bleeding results in chronic inflammation, giving rise to a haematocele which often resembles a pelvic mass. Unlike ectopic pregnancy, the level of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in patients with CEP is usually low or undetectable as chorionic villi are generally sparse. Therefore, CEP often poses a specific diagnostic challenge for clinicians, as both biochemical markers and imaging modalities are unreliable in its diagnosis. Nevertheless, in cases where serum bhCG is significantly elevated in the presence of a large pelvic mass, the possibility of a malignant ovarian germ cell tumour (MOGCT) must be considered and investigated appropriately. Here, we present a rare case of a young woman who was referred to a gynaecological cancer centre with an acute abdomen for the treatment of MOGCT but was subsequently diagnosed with CEP following laparotomy. In our case report, we highlight the diagnostic conundrum of CEP and MOGCT and discuss the surgical challenges both these conditions pose, especially as many of these women are young and desire fertility preservation. Keywords: Chronic ectopic pregnancy, Malignant ovarian germ cell tumour