Abstract
Pregnancy on a rudimentary uterine horn is a rare condition that can lead to a catastrophic outcome when it ruptures. The majority of cases are diagnosed late, after the rupture has occurred. We present the case of a 29-year-old female G2 P1 who complained of abdominal pain. She consulted a medical practitioner who prescribed her analgesics. In the next day, she was found dead in her bedroom. The pregnancy was undiagnosed as she was not aware that she was in a gravid state. At autopsy, there was massive haemoperitoneum and a 24-week gestation foetus lying outside the uterus. The uterus revealed an anomaly in kee** with a non- communicating rudimentary horn. Forensic pathologists do encounter undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies in practice. However, abdominal ectopic pregnancy with a uterine anomaly remains uncommon. These cases are often associated with a high maternal and foetal mortality.
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Shamase, N.B., Ntsele, S.J. & Hammond, A.S. Non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy presenting as sudden unexpected maternal death: an autopsy diagnosis. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 19, 382–387 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-022-00504-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-022-00504-2