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Twin tubal pregnancy may present with disproportionately elevated serum β-hCG and no uterine sacTwin Ectopic Pregnancy Identified in Rare Case Report

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Key Takeaway
Consider twin ectopic pregnancy when β-hCG is disproportionately high and no uterine sac is seen on ultrasound.

This case report and review of the literature describes a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with a unilateral twin tubal pregnancy in the left fallopian tube. The patient presented with two distinct chorionic villous tissue masses and two thick-walled cystic structures in the left adnexal region. No gestational sac was visible in the uterine cavity.

Clinical data showed serum β-hCG levels increased from 11,633.28 mIU/mL to 19,707.09 mIU/mL within four days. The authors note that twin ectopic pregnancy is a rare occurrence, estimated at 1 in 125,000. The report emphasizes the role of serial ultrasonographic surveillance and timely surgical intervention for these cases.

The evidence is limited by the small sample size of a single case report. However, the authors suggest that twin ectopic pregnancy should be considered in clinical practice when serum β-hCG levels are disproportionately elevated and no intrauterine gestational sac is visualized on ultrasonography.

How this fits prior evidence

This case report and review of the literature addresses a gap in clinical recognition of rare ectopic pregnancy presentations. It does not relate to the previously covered systematic review of induction methods for pelvic inflammatory disease animal models.

This report describes a rare case involving a 40-year-old woman with an ectopic pregnancy. Doctors identified a twin tubal pregnancy in her left fallopian tube. This means two embryos were located outside the uterus. The patient showed a significant increase in her serum beta-hCG levels over a period of four days, rising from 11,633.28 mIU/mL to 19,707.09 mIU/mL.

Ultrasound imaging showed two thick-walled cystic structures in the left adnexal region. No gestational sac was found inside the uterine cavity. The patient underwent a laparoscopic left salpingectomy to treat the condition. This procedure involved the surgical removal of the affected fallopian tube.

Because this was a single case report, the findings are limited to this specific patient. However, the case highlights a very rare occurrence. It suggests that doctors should consider a twin ectopic pregnancy when a patient has very high hormone levels but no visible sac in the uterus. This helps ensure timely surgical intervention for these rare cases.

What this means for you:
Twin ectopic pregnancies are rare but can be identified by high hormone levels and no visible sac in the uterus.

Common questions

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube. This case involved a twin tubal pregnancy, which is a very rare occurrence. In this specific case, the pregnancy was located in the left fallopian tube rather than the uterus.

How was the twin pregnancy identified in this case?

Doctors identified the condition through ultrasound and blood tests. The ultrasound showed two cystic structures in the fallopian tube area but no sac in the uterus. Additionally, the patient's serum beta-hCG levels rose significantly from 11,633.28 mIU/mL to 19,707.09 mIU/mL within just four days.

What treatment was used for this patient?

The patient underwent a laparoscopic left salpingectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove the fallopian tube where the pregnancy was located. Because this was a single case report, you should speak with a doctor to understand how these findings apply to specific medical situations.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedSep 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Ectopic pregnancy accounts for approximately 1%–2% of all pregnancy-related conditions. Among these cases, spontaneous unilateral twin tubal ectopic pregnancy is exceptionally uncommon, with an estimated incidence of approximately 1 in 125,000 spontaneous conceptions. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman with a history of three induced abortions who presented with 7 weeks of amenorrhea, 3 weeks + 2 days of intermittent vaginal spotting, and lower abdominal pain. Serial measurements of serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) demonstrated a persistent and rapid increase, rising from 11,633.28 mIU/mL to 19,707.09 mIU/mL within four days. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed two thick-walled cystic structures of increasing size within the left adnexal region, while no gestational sac was identified within the uterine cavity. Histopathological examination following diagnostic curettage showed decidualized endometrium with an Arias–Stella reaction but no chorionic villi. The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic left salpingectomy. Postoperative pathological evaluation confirmed the presence of two distinct chorionic villous tissue masses, establishing the diagnosis of unilateral twin tubal pregnancy in the left fallopian tube. Our literature review indicated that most previously reported cases were associated with assisted reproductive technologies or identifiable risk factors for tubal damage, whereas spontaneous cases occurring in the absence of recognized predisposing factors remain exceedingly rare. This case highlights that twin ectopic pregnancy should be considered when serum β-hCG levels are disproportionately elevated, and no intrauterine gestational sac is visualized on ultrasonography, even in women with no apparent risk factors. Early recognition through serial ultrasonographic surveillance, in combination with timely surgical intervention, plays a critical role in preventing tubal rupture and optimizing clinical outcomes.
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