Ectopic pregnancy: how the diagnostic and therapeutic management has changed

Fertil Steril. 2012 Nov;98(5):1066-73. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.09.040.

Abstract

Nowadays ectopic pregnancy often can be diagnosed before the woman's condition has deteriorated, which has altered the former clinical picture of a life-threatening disease into a more benign condition. This review describes the historical developments in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of ectopic pregnancy leading up to current clinical practice. The first attempts to diagnose ectopic pregnancy originate from the beginning of the 20th century.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / adverse effects
  • Abortion, Therapeutic* / adverse effects
  • Abortion, Therapeutic* / history
  • Abortion, Therapeutic* / methods
  • Algorithms
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / blood
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Fallopian Tubes / surgery
  • Female
  • Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* / history
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / blood
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / diagnostic imaging
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / history
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / therapy*
  • Prenatal Diagnosis* / history
  • Prenatal Diagnosis* / methods
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Unnecessary Procedures

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Biomarkers
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Progesterone
  • Methotrexate