Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Biomagn Res Technol. 2003 Nov 14;1(1):3.

    Correlations from gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging after methotrexate chemotherapy for hemorrhagic placenta increta.

    Wehbe SA, Ghulmiyyah LM, Carroll KT, Perloe M, Schwartzberg DG, Sills ES.

    Georgia Reproductive Specialists LLC/Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Atlanta Medical Center; Atlanta, Georgia, USA. dr.sills@ivf.com

    OBJECTIVE: To describe pre- and post-methotrexate (MTX) therapy images from pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadopentetate dimeglumine contrast following chemotherapy for post-partum hemorrhage secondary to placenta increta. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A 28-year-old Caucasian female presented 4 weeks post-partum complaining of intermittent vaginal bleeding. She underwent dilatation and curettage immediately after vaginal delivery for suspected retained placental tissue but 28 d after delivery, the serum beta-hCG persisted at 156 IU/mL. Office transvaginal sonogram (4 mHz B-mode) was performed, followed by pelvic MRI using a 1.5 Tesla instrument after administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent. MTX was administered intramuscularly, and MRI was repeated four weeks later. RESULTS: While transvaginal sonogram suggested retained products of conception confined to the endometrial compartment, an irregular 53 x 34 x 28 mm heterogeneous intrauterine mass was noted on MRI to extend into the anterior myometrium, consistent with placenta increta. Vaginal bleeding diminished following MTX treatment, with complete discontinuation of bleeding achieved by ~20 d post-injection. MRI using identical technique one month later showed complete resolution of the uterine lesion. Serum beta-hCG was <5 IU/mL. CONCLUSION: Reduction or elimination of risks associated with surgical management of placenta increta is important to preserve uterine function and reproductive potential. For selected hemodynamically stable patients, placenta increta may be treated non-operatively with MTX as described here. A satisfactory response to MTX can be ascertained by serum hCG measurements with pre- and post-treatment pelvic MRI with gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement, which offers advantages over standard transvaginal sonography.

    PMID: 14617375 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

    PMCID: 280697

    Supplemental Content

    Click here to read Click here to read

    Patient drug information

    • Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®, Trexall®)

      Methotrexate is used to treat severe psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) that cannot be controlled by other treatments. Methotrexate is also used along with rest, physica...

    • Methotrexate Injection

      Your doctor has ordered the drug methotrexate to help treat your illness. The drug can be given by injection into a vein or a large muscle. In special situations, it may be injected into the spinal cord.