Rectus sheath hematoma in pregnancy

Although spontaneous hemorrhage into the sheath of the rectus abdominis mus cle is uncommon in pregnancy, rectus sheath hematomas (RSHs) should be cons idered in patients who present with an acute onset of abdominal pain in the latter half of pregnancy or the immediate postpartum period. Both sonograp hy and CT are useful in diagnosing RSHs. We report a case of pregnancy-asso ciated RSH initially suspected of being a degenerating leiomyoma or torsed ovary. Sonography showed a large mass of mixed echogenicity with no interna l vascularity. CT confirmed that the lesion was suprafascial. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.