Which abnormal pregnancy condition can be identified on ultrasound evaluation?

• A. Ovarian torsion
• B. Appendicitis
• C. Budd-Chiari syndrome
• D. Ectopic pregnancy

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that ultrasound is used to locate pregnancy tissue and identify its location. In early pregnancy evaluation, the strongest ultrasound indication of an abnormal pregnancy is visualization of a gestational sac or embryo outside the uterus, or an adnexal mass that contains yolk sac or an embryo separate from the uterine cavity. When a patient has a positive pregnancy test but no intrauterine pregnancy is seen on ultrasound and the hCG level is above the discriminatory threshold, this finding strongly points to an ectopic pregnancy. If the ectopic has ruptured, you may also see free fluid in the pelvis, which supports the diagnosis and urgency. So, ectopic pregnancy is the condition that ultrasound can identify as an abnormal pregnancy location and status.