Background: Laparoscopic surgery has become an important tool in the treatment of tubal pregnancy. Skillful operative technique should prevent tissue spread and thus avoid persistence of ectopic trophoblastic cells.Case: A laparotomy with complete salpingectomy was performed in a patient with rising serum hCG levels after a previous laparoscopic partial salpingectomy for ampullary tubal pregnancy. The only residual trophoblastic tissue found was an implant in the abdominal wall at the site of auxiliary puncture.Conclusion: Extra-abdominal dispersion of active trophoblastic cells may lead to increasing hCG levels, mimicking persistent tubal pregnancy.