Laparoscopic Management of Spontaneous Heterotopic Pregnancy With Preservation of Intrauterine Pregnancy

Heterotopic pregnancy, defined as the coexistence of an intrauterine and an ectopic pregnancy, is a rare condition in spontaneous conceptions and may delay diagnosis. We report the case of a 33-year-old Rh-negative, non-alloimmunized woman with a history of cesarean section who presented with metrorrhagia and pelvic pain at 7+1 weeks of pregnancy. Initial transvaginal ultrasound showed a viable intrauterine pregnancy with a subchorionic hematoma and a FIGO type 5 fibroid, without evidence of ectopic pregnancy. During hospital follow-up for threatened miscarriage, persistent symptoms prompted a repeat ultrasound, revealing a right adnexal structure consistent with a second gestational sac with cardiac activity. Diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed a right tubal ectopic pregnancy, and laparoscopic salpingectomy was performed with preservation of the intrauterine pregnancy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient achieved delivery at term by cesarean section. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of heterotopic pregnancy, which may be missed despite confirmation of an intrauterine pregnancy, and underscores the importance of early clinical suspicion and timely intervention.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-04-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.107190
Primary Topic
Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Laparoscopic Management of Spontaneous Heterotopic Pregnancy With Preservation of Intrauterine Pregnancy

María Sonia Rodríguez, Lorenzo E Aragón Conrado, Francgiliz J Robleto, Catherine Scarlett Moreno Cabrera et al.
Cureus
Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
article

Laparoscopic Management of Spontaneous Heterotopic Pregnancy With Preservation of Intrauterine Pregnancy

María Sonia Rodríguez, Lorenzo E Aragón Conrado, Francgiliz J Robleto, Catherine Scarlett Moreno Cabrera, Geraldiny Mayorga, Christopher Kaleb Romero Ríos
article en

Abstract

Heterotopic pregnancy, defined as the coexistence of an intrauterine and an ectopic pregnancy, is a rare condition in spontaneous conceptions and may delay diagnosis. We report the case of a 33-year-old Rh-negative, non-alloimmunized woman with a history of cesarean section who presented with metrorrhagia and pelvic pain at 7+1 weeks of pregnancy. Initial transvaginal ultrasound showed a viable intrauterine pregnancy with a subchorionic hematoma and a FIGO type 5 fibroid, without evidence of ectopic pregnancy. During hospital follow-up for threatened miscarriage, persistent symptoms prompted a repeat ultrasound, revealing a right adnexal structure consistent with a second gestational sac with cardiac activity. Diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed a right tubal ectopic pregnancy, and laparoscopic salpingectomy was performed with preservation of the intrauterine pregnancy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient achieved delivery at term by cesarean section. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of heterotopic pregnancy, which may be missed despite confirmation of an intrauterine pregnancy, and underscores the importance of early clinical suspicion and timely intervention.

Cureus
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Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
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