Lung cancer in pregnancy: Report of two cases
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
97
Journal Issue
8
Pages
573-576
Date Issued
1998
Author(s)
Abstract
Lung cancer during pregnancy is rare, although the number of case reports has been increasing in recent years. Herein, we describe two cases of lung carcinoma complicating pregnancy with different presentations and outcomes, and review the relevant literature. The first case involved a 31-year-old patients with squamous cell carcinoma with multiple bone metastases. The initial symptoms were productive cough and dyspnea on exertion during the second trimester of pregnancy, to which the patient paid little attention. Chemoradiation was started 1 month postpartum, soon after the diagnosis was made, but with little response. She died at home several days after palliative radiotherapy. The second case involved a 34-year-old patient with poorly differentiated lung carcinoma with brain metatstasis. Left hemiparesis had developed initially during the third trimester. She underwent excision of the metastatic brain tumor and received radiotherapy to the left lung tumor and brain. The patient is still alive after a follow-up period of more than 1 year. Delayed diagnosis may be the main problem in the management of lung cancer during pregnancy, because of misinterpretation of common respiratory symptoms and physicians' reluctance to use radiologic imaging studies owing to concerns over the safety of the fetus. Thus, we suggest chest radiographs with abdominal lead shielding for pregnant patients with protracted cough and hemoptysis. Treatment of unresectable lung cancer during pregnancy generally consisted of radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy in previous reports, but the optimal therapy is still unknown, owing to inadequate case numbers and insufficient follow-up data.
SDGs
Other Subjects
cisplatin; adult; article; bone metastasis; brain metastasis; cancer chemotherapy; case report; coughing; dyspnea; female; human; lung cancer; lung carcinoma; palliative therapy; pregnancy; squamous cell carcinoma; Adult; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
Type
journal article