Such cases are extremely rare, with only seven to eight documented cases.
In what is believed to be the first such case in India, a woman in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, was diagnosed with a foetus growing inside her liver—a rare form of ectopic pregnancy known as intrahepatic ectopic pregnancy. The discovery has stunned medical professionals, with only a handful of similar cases reported globally.
The woman, who had been experiencing severe abdominal pain and frequent vomiting, underwent an MRI scan to determine the cause of her symptoms. The scan was conducted by Dr. K K Gupta, a radiologist and owner of a private imaging centre in Meerut.
“When I saw the scan, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The foetus was embedded in the right lobe of the liver, and we could clearly observe cardiac pulsations. I’ve never come across such a case in my entire career,” Dr. Gupta told News18.
According to Dr. Gupta, this may well be the first reported case of its kind in India, based on available global medical data.
Scan Revealed Shocking Findings
The MRI scan revealed a well-formed gestational sac within the liver. The foetus measured around 12 weeks, and most strikingly, showed active cardiac activity, confirming it was alive. Meanwhile, the woman’s uterus was found to be completely empty, eliminating the possibility of a normal pregnancy.
“We confirmed that the pregnancy was not in the uterus. Instead, the liver had become the site for implantation and growth of the foetus—an exceptionally rare condition,” he added.
What is Intrahepatic Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a foetus grows outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tubes. However, in intrahepatic ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg attaches and develops inside the liver—an organ that receives significant blood flow, making any surgical intervention high-risk due to potential internal bleeding.
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Globally, Such cases are extremely rare, with only seven to eight documented cases. The condition represents just 0.03% of all ectopic pregnancies.
Apart from this newly identified case in India, intrahepatic ectopic pregnancies have previously been reported in countries like the United States, China, and Nigeria. Due to the high risk and rarity, each case draws intense medical interest and adds to the limited body of literature on this condition.
