Clinicopathological features and maternal and foetal management of pregnancy-complicating krukenberg tumours

Abstract

Krukenberg tumours are not uncommon, but pregnancy-complicating Krukenberg tumours are rare. To identify management strategies of pregnancies with Krukenberg tumours, the medical records of patients treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital over the past 20 years were collected and analysed. Four patients were enrolled. The primary tumour sites were the stomach and colorectal region. Three patients presented with obvious and severe gastrointestinal symptoms at 11-18 weeks of gestation, and their symptoms gradually developed into physiological signs associated with malignancy. Three patients underwent termination of pregnancy via induced delivery and gestational hysterectomy. One patient underwent caesarean section at 31 weeks of gestation. Two patients underwent palliative surgery due to extensive lesions. The other two patients with metastatic lesions confined to the ovaries and liver, underwent satisfactory cytoreductive surgery and anti-tumour treatments postoperatively. Pregnant women who exhibit new gastrointestinal symptoms or aggravation of previous gastrointestinal symptoms after the end of the first trimester should be carefully examined for digestive system diseases. If ovarian metastasis is highly suspected, the pregnancy should be terminated as early as possible.