Meerut, Uttar Pradesh – July 29, 2025: In a case that has left even seasoned doctors stunned, a 30-year-old woman from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, was found to be carrying a 12-week-old live foetus growing inside her liver — a medical anomaly so rare that only a handful of such cases have been recorded across the globe.
This extraordinary case of intrahepatic ectopic pregnancy is believed to be the first ever reported in India, and among just eight documented worldwide. It was discovered after the woman, who had been suffering from persistent abdominal pain and unexplained vomiting for more than two months, underwent advanced imaging scans in Meerut.
Persistent Pain Led to Shocking Discovery
Initially seeking treatment locally, the woman failed to find relief from her symptoms. As her condition worsened, she was referred to a private imaging center in Meerut for further evaluation. It was during the MRI scan that radiologists uncovered something truly unprecedented — a live gestational sac lodged deep within the right lobe of her liver, with clear signs of cardiac activity.
“We cross-verified the scans across multiple imaging planes. It was not a mistake — the foetus was genuinely implanted in her liver,” said Dr. KK Gupta, the radiologist who made the diagnosis, as quoted by News18.
What Is Intrahepatic Ectopic Pregnancy?
In a typical pregnancy, the fertilised egg implants inside the uterus. In an ectopic pregnancy, the egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes. However, in this intrahepatic ectopic pregnancy, the embryo implanted directly into liver tissue — a location completely unfit for sustaining a pregnancy and fraught with life-threatening complications.
Experts say the condition is not only rare but extremely dangerous. Potential complications include:
- Severe internal bleeding
- Liver rupture
- Organ failure
- High risk of maternal death
Globally, such cases have been reported in the United States, Nigeria, China, and parts of Europe, but none had surfaced in India until now.
High-Risk Surgical Plan Underway
The woman has been placed under intensive medical supervision, and a multidisciplinary team — including obstetricians, liver surgeons, and radiologists — has been assembled to plan what is being called a “complex, high-risk surgical intervention.”
The challenge lies in removing the foetal tissue without causing catastrophic damage to the liver or risking the woman’s life. “This surgery requires immense precision and a coordinated approach. The liver is a highly vascular organ, and operating here leaves very little room for error,” noted a senior surgeon involved in the case.
No Precedent in Indian Medical History
According to available medical literature, only about eight cases of intrahepatic ectopic pregnancy have been reported worldwide. This case, therefore, sets a new precedent in Indian medical history, drawing attention from experts across the country and abroad.
Medical journals and research bodies are now closely monitoring the case, and a full clinical report is expected to be published post-surgery to contribute to global medical understanding of this condition.
A Wake-Up Call for Persistent Abdominal Symptoms
Doctors are using this case as a reminder for the public and healthcare providers alike — unexplained abdominal pain, prolonged vomiting, or other unusual symptoms during early pregnancy should never be ignored. Early imaging and advanced diagnostics like MRI can be lifesaving, especially in identifying rare and potentially fatal conditions.
As the medical team prepares for the risky surgery, the nation watches with concern and hope. The outcome could not only save the woman’s life but also provide invaluable insights into one of the rarest known complications in reproductive medicine.
For now, the focus remains on her safety and recovery, with the global medical community waiting for updates on what might become a landmark case in obstetric surgery.
