Diffuse Gastric Cancer During Pregnancy: Report of a Rare Association

Abstract

Gastric cancer during pregnancy is a rare event and difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can be confused with those of an ordinary pregnancy. We report a case of a 25-year-old patient with a 29-week gestation, with asthenia complaint, vomiting and weight loss. During the investigation of wasting syndrome endoscopy was performed with infiltrative ulcerative lesions in pre-pyloric region with biopsy revealing carcinoma with signet ring, undifferentiated type. It was held on a strict control of fetal vitality, and pregnancy was interrupted via the abdominal delivery at 34 weeks. Soon after the cesarean section was performed, exploratory laparotomy was performed to perform inventory of the abdominal cavity, being observed the presence of carcinomatous implants in the peritoneum. In the face of irresectability clinical conduct was adopted and the patient was sent to chemotherapy, ensuring nutrition via a jejunostomy. The article reviews the gastric carcinoma association with pregnancy, discussing the initiation of treatment and continuity of pregnancy.