Description
The tube as such is not recognisable but the walls are represented by the lighter brown layer of
tissue seen over much of the specimen. The tube is expanded and distorted by clotted blood and
organising bloodclot can be seen on the outer surface of the tube. Towards the centre there is a
cavity approximately 2 cm in diameter in which there is a 9 mm embryo.
History
At the age of 25, this woman presented with vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain
which led to the diagnosis and treatment of a left ectopic pregnancy. Nine months later she
presented with a threatened miscarriage and 1 month after this described the onset of vaginal
bleeding and lower abdominal pain. At operation 500 ml of old bloodclot was found in the
peritoneum and a partly ruptured right ectopic pregnancy was demonstrated and the tube removed.