IMAGING DIAGNOSIS IN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Abstract

This article analyzed recent evidence on the role of imaging examinations in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, a condition characterized by implantation of the embryo outside the uterine cavity and associated with high maternal morbidity and mortality in the first trimester. This is an integrative literature review, designed according to the PICOTT strategy and the methodological framework of Whittemore & Knafl (2005), adapted by Mendes, Silveira & Galvão (2008). Searches were carried out in PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and Cochrane Library databases, covering publications from 2020 to 2025. From the 343 studies initially identified, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample comprised 08 articles. Results showed that transvaginal ultrasonography remains the first-line method, capable of detecting typical signs such as ring-shaped adnexal mass and free fluid in the abdominal cavity. Magnetic resonance imaging was highlighted as a complementary tool in inconclusive cases, enabling precise characterization of the gestational sac and differentiation between ectopic pregnancy types. Computed tomography, despite the limitation of ionizing radiation, demonstrated applicability in rare cases of atypical implantation. It is concluded that the integrated use of imaging modalities improves diagnostic accuracy, supports appropriate clinical management, and helps reduce severe complications, although challenges regarding access and protocol standardization remain.