32-year-old Navi Mumbai resident experiences rare cornual ectopic pregnancy

When a pregnancy test confirmed 32-year-old Navi Mumbai resident Harshali Palsodkar’s suspicion last month, she was worried. Her first-born was only seven months old, and she already experienced a painful and scary ectopic pregnancy (in which the fertilised egg implants outside of the uterus) that needed immediate corrective surgery.


This time too, an ultrasound scan conducted to establish the pregnancy drew a blank. “The doctors found no pregnancy inside the uterus or the fallopian tubes, which led to a suspicion of a complication,’’ said Harshali. However, another blood test (beta HCG test) and a second ultrasound later, doctors at Motherhood Hospital in Kharghar found the pregnancy – but in the cornual part of the uterus. The term “cornual” refers to the horn-shaped part of the uterus; the cornua are the upper corners of the uterus where the fallopian tubes join the uterine cavity. It’s a rare location for pregnancy.

Cornual ectopic pregnancy is extremely rare and dangerous for the woman as it could rupture and cause potentially life-threatening bleeding, said obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Surabhi Siddhartha who treated Harshali. In cornual ectopic pregnancy, the pregnancy is technically outside the uterus, but it’s still within the uterine wall, making it harder to detect. Such pregnancies account for 2-4% of all ectopic pregnancies, translating into roughly 1 in 2,500-5,000 pregnancies overall.

Harshali underwent an hour-long laparoscopic surgery to prevent any rupture and end the pregnancy. Dr Siddhartha said regular check-ups are important for women who have a history of complicated pregnancies. “Even if a woman is lactating or not having regular periods, it’s essential to take pregnancy tests if one suspects pregnancy. Hormonal changes during lactation can mask signs of pregnancy, making it crucial to keep track of any unusual symptoms and seek medical attention if needed,’’ she said.

Harshali first conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when access to hospitals was restricted. “I often felt dizzy and, upon getting checked, was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy at nine weeks with enlarged fallopian tubes,’’ she said. Although the surgery was planned for the following month, her fallopian tube ruptured the next day, requiring immediate surgery and removal of the left tube.

She gave up hope of conceiving again, but unexpectedly became pregnant in December 2023 and delivered a boy in August 2024. “To my surprise, in December 2024, I conceived again—that again turned out to be ectopic of the rarest kind,’’ she added. Doctors said that Harshali’s second ectopic pregnancy was also different in that it was on the same side where the fallopian tube was previously removed. “There are multiple reasons why Harshali’s case is very rare, but highlights the need for early detection and regular monitoring of pregnancies,’’ added Dr Siddhartha.

“A cornual pregnancy poses a significant diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge. It still remains the significant cause of maternal death in women of the childbearing ages, despite the advances in both the diagnosis and the treatment. An appropriate individual counselling is needed regarding the risk of future pregnancies and the mode of delivery,” said a research article in the indexed Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.


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