A Case of Rectal Cancer in Pregnancy.

Lee, Jin Hee; Nam, Hyun Woo; Kim, Yoon Sook; Chun, Seob; Kim, Jong Su; Choi, Seung Do; Bae, Dong Han

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005;48(4):1043-1048.
Published online April 1, 2005.

A Case of Rectal Cancer in Pregnancy.

Jin Hee Lee, Hyun Woo Nam, Yoon Sook Kim, Seob Chun, Jong Su Kim, Seung Do Choi, Dong Han Bae

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang Chunan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Chunan, Korea. sdchoi@schch.co.kr

Abstract

Colorectal cancer during pregnancy is rare condition associated with poor prognosis. The diagnosis is often delayed because the presenting symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, rectal bleeding and backache are commonplace in normal pregnancy. Management is individualized to each patient. If the tumor is discovered during first half of pregnancy, the treatment of the cancer should take priority and, if possible, immediate surgical resection should be performed. More often the tumor is discovered at the second half of pregnancy, delaying resection until postpartum is recommended allowing the fetus to develop to safe delivery. Thus, it is important not to underestimate the patient's symptoms because the early diagnosis is essential for better prognosis. We experienced a woman at 30 weeks gestation with adenocarcinoma of the perforated rectum diagnosed after emergency cesarean delivery with a brief review of literature.

Key Words: Rectal cancer, Pregnancy