Ectopic pregnancy differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]

Differentiating an Ectopic Pregnancy from other Conditions

• Threatened or incomplete abortion
• Adnexal torsion
• Appendicitis
• Ruptured corpus luteum cyst
• Pancreatitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Pyelonephritis

	Clinical Features	Physical Examination	Diagnostic Findings
Endometriosis	Dysmenorrhea Dyspareunia Infertility Common in women between 25 to 35 years	Nodules in the posterior fornix Adnexal masses Fixed retroverted uterus Lateral displacement of the cervix	Increased serum cancer antigen-125  Nodules of the recto vaginal septum and hypoechoic, vascular mass on MRI Laproscopic visualization confirms the diagnosis
Adenomyosis	Abnormal uterine bleeding Dysmenorrhea Common in women aged 40 and 50 years	Diffuse uterine enlargement always less than size corresponding to less than 12 weeks of gestation	Asymmetric thickening of the myometrium on MRI
Submucous uterine leiomyomas	Menorrhagia Pelvic pressure and pain Infertility Peak age of onset 25 to 44 years of age	Mobile uterus with an irregular contour	Transvaginal ultrasound will demonstrate the presence of myomas
Pelvic Inflammatory disease	Seen in patients with history of sexually transmitted disease History of multiple sexual partners  Common in women younger than 25 years of age	Abdominal tenderness  Acute cervical motion, uterine, and adnexal tenderness Visualization of purulent endocervical discharge	Positive Nucleic acid amplification tests for Chlamydia trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae Gram negative diplococci on gram stain
Pelvic congestion Syndrome	Shifting lower abdominal pain Deep dyspareunia Post-coital pain Exacerbation of pain after prolonged standing	Bimanual tenderness Cervical motion tenderness	Pelvic varicosities on ultrasound with reduced blood flow

Endometriosis should also be differentiated from conditions that present with lower abdominal pain in young women. The following is a list of diseases that present with acute onset severe lower abdominal pain:

Disease	Findings
Ectopic pregnancy	History of missed menses, positive pregnancy test, ultrasound reveals an empty uterus and may show a mass in the fallopian tubes.
Appendicitis	Pain localized to the right iliac fossa, vomiting, abdominal ultrasound sensitivity for diagnosis of acute appendicitis is 75% to 90%.
Rupturedovarian cyst	Usually spontaneous, can follow history of trauma, mild chronic lower abdominal discomfort may suddenly intensify, ultrasound is diagnostic.
Ovarian cyst torsion	Presents with acute severe unilateral lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, tender adnexal mass palpated in 90%, ultrasound is diagnostic.
Hemorrhagic ovarian cyst	Presents with localized abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Hypovolemic shock may be present, abdominal tenderness and guarding are physical exam findings, ultrasound is diagnostic.
Endometriosis	Presents with cyclic pain that is exacerbated by onset of menses, dyspareunia. laparoscopic exploration is diagnostic.
Acute cystitis	Presents with features of increased urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, and suprapubic pain.

Classification of acute abdomen based on etiology Presentation Symptoms Signs Diagnosis Comments Fever Abdominal Pain Jaundice Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Common causes of Peritonitis Primary Peritonitis Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis + Diffuse - - - Hypoactive Ascitic fluid PMN>250 cells/mm³ Culture: Positive for single organism Ultrasound for evaluation of liver cirrhosis - Secondary Peritonitis Perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer + Diffuse - + + N Ascitic fluid LDH > serum LDH Glucose < 50mg/dl Total protein > 1g/dl Air under diaphragm in upright CXR Upper GI endoscopy for diagnosis Acute cholangitis + RUQ + - - N Abnormal LFT Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation Biliary drainage (ERCP) + IV antibiotics Acute cholecystitis + RUQ + - - Hypoactive Hyperbilirubinemia Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows gallstone and evidence of inflammation Murphy’s sign Acute pancreatitis + Epigastric +/- - - N Increased amylase / lipase Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation Pain radiation to back Acute appendicitis + RLQ - + + Hypoactive Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation Nausea & vomiting, decreased appetite Acute diverticulitis + LLQ +/- + - Hypoactive Leukocytosis CT scan and ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation Acute salpingitis + LLQ/ RLQ - +/- +/- N Leukocytosis Pelvic ultrasound Vaginal discharge Hollow Viscous Obstruction Small intestine obstruction - Diffuse - + +/- Hyperactive then absent Leukocytosis Abdominal X ray Nausea & vomiting associated with constipation, abdominal distention Volvulus - Diffuse - + - Hypoactive Leukocytosis CT scan and abdominal X ray Nausea & vomiting associated with constipation, abdominal distention Biliary colic - RUQ + - - N Increased bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase Ultrasound Nausea & vomiting Renal colic - Flank pain - - - N Hematuria CT scan and ultrasound Colicky abdominal pain associated with nausea & vomiting Vascular Disorders Ischemic causes Mesenteric ischemia +/- Periumbilical - - - Hyperactive Leukocytosis and lactic acidosis CT scan Nausea & vomiting, normal physical examination Acute ischemic colitis +/- Diffuse - + + Hyperactive then absent Leukocytosis CT scan Nausea & vomiting Hemorrhagic causes Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm - Diffuse - - - N Normal CT scan Unstable hemodynamics Intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage - Diffuse - - - N Anemia CT scan History of trauma Gynaecological Causes Ovarian Cyst Complications Torsion of the cyst - RLQ / LLQ - +/- +/- N Increased ESR and CRP Ultrasound Sudden onset sever pain with nausea and vomiting Cyst rupture - RLQ / LLQ - +/- +/- N Increased ESR and CRP Ultrasound Sudden onset sever pain with nausea and vomiting Pregnancy Ruptured ectopic pregnancy - RLQ / LLQ - - - N Positive pregnancy test Ultrasound History of missed period and vaginal bleeding References