ECTOPIC PREGNANCY - A RECENT 5-YEAR STUDY AND REVIEW OF THE LAST 50 YEARS LITERATURE

OBJECTIVE: To compare the past and current clinical and pathologic fac tors that are responsible for ectopic pregnancy (EP). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective chart and histopathologic specimen review o f 740 cases of EP during II recent, five-year period. Products of conc eption, as well as 240 cases of concomitant endometrial biopsies, were examined. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation, proportion of patien ts with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, voluntary interrupti on of pregnancy (VIP), previous surgery and laterality (right side) of the tubal EP were similar to rates reported in previous studies. Nine ty-four percent of the EPs were tubal, and 90% of the tubes exhibited some pathologic changes, including chronic salpingitis (49.5%) and fol licular salpingitis (10%), among others. Gestational endometrial patte rns were seen in 44% of cases. The corpus luteum of pregnancy was cont ralateral in 30% of cases in which an ovarian biopsy was performed. CO NCLUSION: The factors classically associated with EP remained similar over a period of about 50 years, although the association with VIP sti ll appears to be controversial. Endometrial curettage alone cannot be used to exclude an EP. Ovum transmigration may play a role in the gene sis of EP.