Treatment of unruptured cornual pregnancies by local injections of methotrexate or potassium chloride under transvaginal ultrasonographic guidance

Objective: To demonstrate the outcome of intralesional management and show the safety of local treatment of cornual pregnancy.

Methods: Eight patients were treated with local methotrexate or potassium chloride injection. All patients underwent transvaginal ultrasound examination and were diagnosed by the criteria defined by Timor-Tritsch. In the case of fetal heart beat observation, potassium chloride was injected; and in the case of no heart beat detection, methotrexate was used. A follicle aspiration needle was inserted directly into the gestational sac under transvaginal guidance.

Results: Although it has been considered to be a risk factor, none of the patients in our study had previous ectopic pregnancy, history of infertility / in vitro fertilization, or cornual pregnancy. One of the patients had a medical history of abortion. In four cases, methotrexate was injected, and three patients received potassium chloride as a local treatment. None of the patients had any complication in the peri- or postoperative period.

Conclusion: Using a local approach, the treatment agent can reach the area of the cornual pregnancy in high concentrations. Based on this case series, a local approach seems to be an effective and fertility-sparing method for treating unruptured cornual pregnancies.