Caesarean scar pregnancy: a 10-year experience

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2015 Feb;55(1):64-9. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12273. Epub 2014 Oct 28.

Abstract

Aims: To review the management and outcome of all women with caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) at a single centre.

Methods: A retrospective review of women diagnosed with CSP between January 2004 and December 2013 was performed. Women were identified from the admission and Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic records.

Results: Twenty-two cases of CSP were identified during the study period. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 6.7 weeks (range 4.7-11.8 weeks). All diagnoses were made by ultrasound, the most common finding of which was a heterogeneous mass at the site of the caesarean scar (100%). The median duration for human chorionic gonadotropin to return to undetectable level was 10 weeks (range 2-20 weeks), although the duration for sonographic resolution of the CSP can take much longer. The success rate of intralesional methotrexate was 80% in our series.

Conclusion: There is no consensus regarding the method of choice for managing CSP. Medical management using intralesional methotrexate appears to be an acceptable treatment in clinically stable women.

Keywords: caesarean scar; ectopic pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / administration & dosage
  • Adult
  • Cesarean Section / adverse effects*
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / blood
  • Cicatrix / complications*
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / diagnostic imaging
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / etiology*
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Methotrexate