J Gastric Cancer.  2016 Dec;16(4):271-276. 10.5230/jgc.2016.16.4.271.

The Rare and Challenging Presentation of Gastric Cancer during Pregnancy: A Report of Three Cases

• Pacheco S
• Norero E
• Canales C
• Martínez
• Herrera ME
• Muñoz C
• Jarufe N

• KMID: 2389854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2016.16.4.271

Abstract

Pregnancy-associated gastric cancer is extremely rare. In many cases, it is diagnosed at an advanced stage because the symptoms during pregnancy are generally overlooked. We report three cases of gastric cancer during pregnancy with various outcomes. The first case included a patient with stage IV gastric cancer who received palliative chemotherapy. This patient had a preterm birth and died 7 months after diagnosis. The second case received neoadjuvant chemotherapy during pregnancy and a total gastrectomy was performed after delivery. She then received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. This patient developed pulmonary metastasis and died of recurrence 41 months after surgery. In the third case, a distal subtotal gastrectomy was performed at week 14 of pregnancy, with no complications. The patient received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. She is currently without recurrence 14 months after surgery. In patients with pregnancy-associated gastric cancer, treatment decisions are predominantly influenced by clinical stage and gestational age at diagnosis.

Keyword

Stomach neoplasms; Pregnancy; Carcinoma, signet ring cell

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell
Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant
Diagnosis
Drug Therapy
Gastrectomy
Gestational Age
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pregnancy*
Premature Birth
Recurrence
Stomach Neoplasms*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance imaging findings in case 1. (A, B) Gastric wall thickness, lymph node metastasis, perihepatic, and perisplenic fluid. (C, D) Gravid uterus.

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  Fig. 2 Computed tomography findings in case 2. (A, B) Gastric wall thickness. (C, D) Gravid uterus.

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  Fig. 3 Computed tomography findings in case 3. (A, B) Prepyloric gastric wall thickness. (C, D) Gravid uterus.

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