Advanced extrauterine pregnancy and the fetal death syndrome: Report of a case with clinicopathologic considerations

Advanced extrauterine pregnancy is uncommon, but it is a serious hazard to both mother and fetus. Slightly more than 100 advanced abdominocyesis have been reported since 1960, but this case is the first, to our knowledge, in which maternal hypofibrinogenemia was associated with fetal death outside the uterus. Hysterectomy permitted thorough pathologic examination of the placenta and its relation to the uterus. Only 10 other reported extra-uterine pregnancies have been studied from the pathologic standpoint. Pertinent clinical and roentgenographic features of extrauterine pregnancy have been reviewed and the relationship between fetal death and maternal hypofibrinogenemia discussed.