Pseudogestational sac
Updates to Synonym Attributes
Updates to Article Attributes
A pseudogestational sac is or pseudosac is the ideaconcept that a small amount of intrauterine fluid in the setting of a positive pregnancy test and abdominal pain could be erroneously interpreted as a true gestational sac in ectopic pregnancy.
The sign was originally reported before the use of endovaginal ultrasound imaging and caution should be exercised if considering diagnosing a pseudogestational sac with modern ultrasound equipment. In a woman with a postive beta-hCG, any intrauterine sac-like fluid collection seen on ultrasound is highly likely to be a gestational sac 6.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
- generally irregularly-shaped with pointed edges and/or filled with debris, sometimes referred to as 'beaking'
- centrally located in the endometrial cavity, rather than eccentrically located within the endometrium
- does not demonstrate a yolk sac
- a double decidual layer is compatible with intrauterine pregnancy, but lack of this sign is not specific for pseudogestational sac
- may be surrounded by a thick decidual layer
It should be distinguished from an intra-decidual sign, which is also a sign of an early pregnancy.
The idea of beta-hCG "discriminatory levels" has also undergone revision since this sign was formulated. Caution should be exercised in making a diagnosis of pseudogestational sac because an intrauterine fluid collection does not show a yolk sac at a beta-HCG level >2000 7. Therapy should not be initiated in a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level.
Differential diagnosis
- decidual cyst
- normal intrauterine pregnancy
- anembryonic pregnancy
- incomplete miscarriage
- blood products
-<p>A<strong> pseudogestational sac</strong> is the idea that a small amount of intrauterine fluid in the setting of a positive pregnancy test and abdominal pain could be erroneously interpreted as a true <a href="/articles/gestational-sac">gestational sac</a> in <a href="/articles/ectopic-pregnancy">ectopic pregnancy</a>.</p><p>The sign was originally reported before the use of endovaginal ultrasound imaging and caution should be exercised if considering diagnosing a pseudogestational sac with modern ultrasound equipment. In a woman with a postive beta-hCG, any intrauterine sac-like fluid collection seen on ultrasound is highly likely to be a gestational sac <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><ul>-<li>generally irregularly-shaped with pointed edges and/or filled with debris</li>-<li>centrally located, rather than eccentrically located</li>- +<p>A<strong> pseudogestational sac</strong> or<strong> pseudosac</strong> is the concept that a small amount of intrauterine fluid in the setting of a positive pregnancy test and abdominal pain could be erroneously interpreted as a true <a href="/articles/gestational-sac">gestational sac</a> in <a href="/articles/ectopic-pregnancy">ectopic pregnancy</a>.</p><p>The sign was originally reported before the use of endovaginal ultrasound imaging and caution should be exercised if considering diagnosing a pseudogestational sac with modern ultrasound equipment. In a woman with a postive beta-hCG, any intrauterine sac-like fluid collection seen on ultrasound is highly likely to be a gestational sac <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Ultrasound</h5><ul>
- +<li>generally irregularly-shaped with pointed edges and/or filled with debris, sometimes referred to as 'beaking'</li>
- +<li>centrally located in the endometrial cavity, rather than eccentrically located within the endometrium</li>
-</ul><p>It should be distinguished from an <a href="/articles/intradecidual-sac-sign-1">intra-decidual sign</a>, which is also a sign of an <a href="/articles/early-pregnancy">early pregnancy</a>.</p><p>The idea of beta-hCG "discriminatory levels" has also undergone revision since this sign was formulated. Caution should be exercised in making a diagnosis of pseudogestational sac because an intrauterine fluid collection does not show a yolk sac at a beta-HCG level >2000 <sup>7</sup>. Therapy should not be initiated in a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level.</p>- +</ul><p>It should be distinguished from an <a href="/articles/intradecidual-sac-sign-1">intra-decidual sign</a>, which is also a sign of an <a href="/articles/early-pregnancy">early pregnancy</a>.</p><p>The idea of beta-hCG "discriminatory levels" has also undergone revision since this sign was formulated. Caution should be exercised in making a diagnosis of pseudogestational sac because an intrauterine fluid collection does not show a yolk sac at a beta-HCG level >2000 <sup>7</sup>. Therapy should not be initiated in a hemodynamically stable woman on the basis of a single beta-hCG level.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
- +<li><a title="Decidual cyst" href="/articles/pseudogestational-sac-1">decidual cyst</a></li>
- +<li>normal intrauterine pregnancy</li>
- +<li><a title="Anembryonic pregnancy" href="/articles/anembryonic-pregnancy">anembryonic pregnancy</a></li>
- +<li><a title="Incomplete miscarriage" href="/articles/incomplete-miscarriage">incomplete miscarriage</a></li>
- +<li>blood products</li>
- +</ul>