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Background. Catastrophic APS (CAPS) is a rare but life-threatening form of APS defined as multiorgan thrombosis affecting a minimum of three organs with confirmation by histopathology of small vessel occlusions in at least one organ or tissue. The development of CAPS in pregnancy poses many diagnostic challenges as a result of its broad range of clinical presentations and its overlap with other obstetric complications and microangiopathic diseases. Because of the high associated mortality rate, prompt recognition and treatment are paramount. Case. A twenty-five-year-old G3P0111 with a history of multiple thromboembolisms presented at 21 weeks and 3 days of gestation with complaints of right upper quadrant pain, visual disturbances, headache, and syncopal episodes. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated microangiopathic disease with hemolysis (confirmed on peripheral smear), elevated liver enzymes, and abnormal 24-hour urine protein with vital signs within the normal range. Presence of significantly elevated antiphospholipid antibodies was noted, facilitating the diagnosis of probable CAPS. Proper workup was achieved based on clinical suspicion, allowing immediate and appropriate management. Conclusion. CAPS is a life-threatening condition rarely seen in pregnancy making early recognition difficult. A low threshold to initiate urgent and aggressive treatment should be maintained to minimize the risk of adverse outcomes.

Ectopic breast tissue is a rare condition caused by remnants of the mammary ridges that fail to involute during embryologic development. To date, only 39 cases have been reported in the literature worldwide. Here, we report the 40th case of a 69-year-old G3P2 postmenopausal Caucasian woman who presented with complaint of vulvar swelling. Biopsy of the mass revealed the presence of a benign mammary gland-like adenoma which was completely excised shortly thereafter. Clinical presentation of vulvar breast tissue is highly variable depending on the amount of breast tissue developed and its functionality. Diagnosis is ultimately made by tissue biopsy and histopathologic examination. Due to the scarce evidence that exists pertaining to supernumerary breast tissue located on the vulva, specific management guidelines are lacking. Since this ectopic tissue serves no function, but rather may provide a source for future malignancy, surgical excision is recommended.

Background. In 2013, the abortion rate in the United States was found to be 200 abortions per 1,000 live births. Of these, the CDC estimates that nearly 49% were performed using unsafe measures. Even when these procedures are safely performed, patients are at risk for immediate or delayed complications. In second-trimester terminations, mechanical dilation with an osmotic dilator is common to allow for delivery of the fetus. The Japanese seaweed Laminaria japonica is used to achieve this purpose. Case. A 28-year-old primigravida presented with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. She had irregular menstrual cycles and reported scant yellow discharge. A transvaginal ultrasound revealed an abnormally appearing endometrium with an elongated structure suspicious for a foreign body. The patient reported a voluntary termination of pregnancy twelve years earlier, for which laminaria were placed prior to the dilation and extraction. She underwent an operative hysteroscopy confirming our suspicion for retained laminaria. The pathology report demonstrated chronic severe endometritis and plant based material. Conclusion. Retained laminaria are associated with chronic pelvic pain and chronic infertility. Since they can be difficult to detect on conventional imaging, proper counting prior to insertion and after removal is an essential physician responsibility.