A 28-year-old female presents with acute severe abdominal pain. She has a positive pregnancy test and is 6 weeks pregnant. Transvaginal ultrasound in ...

Question

A 28-year-old female presents with acute severe abdominal pain. She has a positive pregnancy test and is 6 weeks pregnant. Transvaginal ultrasound in hospital shows an empty uterus. Her serum hCG is 5000 IU/L. What is the significance of an empty uterus with hCG above the discriminatory zone?

Accepted Answer

Ectopic pregnancy must be assumed until proven otherwise - an empty uterus with hCG above the discriminatory zone (typically 1500-2000 IU/L on transvaginal scan) strongly suggests an ectopic pregnancy

Answer

A complete miscarriage has occurred

Answer

The patient is not pregnant - the hCG is a false positive

Answer

The pregnancy is in the fallopian tube but this is normal

Answer

The pregnancy is too early to see on ultrasound

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Ectopic Pregnancy - Discriminatory Zone

A 28-year-old female presents with acute severe abdominal pain. She has a positive pregnancy test and is 6 weeks pregnant. Transvaginal ultrasound in hospital shows an empty uterus. Her serum hCG is 5000 IU/L. What is the significance of an empty uterus with hCG above the discriminatory zone?