Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy or diagnostic methods for ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed using a combination of clinical evaluation, blood tests, and imaging—primarily transvaginal ultrasound and serial hCG measurements.

Here's a detailed overview of the diagnostic approach:

🩺 Clinical Evaluation
Symptoms: Patients often present with lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and amenorrhea. However, symptoms can vary and may mimic other conditions.

Pelvic exam: May reveal adnexal tenderness, a palpable mass, or cervical motion tenderness, but is not definitive.

🧪 Laboratory Tests
Serum beta-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin):

In a normal intrauterine pregnancy, hCG levels typically double every 48–72 hours.

In ectopic pregnancy, hCG levels often rise more slowly or plateau.

If hCG is above the discriminatory zone (usually 1,500–2,000 mIU/mL) and no intrauterine pregnancy is seen on ultrasound, ectopic pregnancy is suspected.

🖥️ Imaging
Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS):

Most reliable imaging tool.

May show absence of intrauterine gestational sac, adnexal mass, or free fluid in the pelvis.

A definitive ectopic diagnosis is made if a gestational sac with a yolk sac or embryo is seen outside the uterus.

🧠 Additional Diagnostic Tools
Progesterone levels: Low levels may support nonviable pregnancy but are not diagnostic.

Culdocentesis: Rarely used; detects blood in the peritoneal cavity.

Diagnostic laparoscopy: Used when imaging is inconclusive and clinical suspicion is high.

🚨 When to Suspect Ectopic Pregnancy
Any woman of reproductive age with abdominal pain and positive pregnancy test should be evaluated for ectopic pregnancy.

Especially critical if no intrauterine pregnancy is confirmed on ultrasound

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