Esophageal cancer associated with pregnancy

Esophageal cancer concomitant with pregnancy is very rare and the prognosis is poor. The main concern in diagnosis is that the clinical presentations of esophageal cancer in pregnant woman are often not considered serious and are misinterpreted as pregnancy-related symptoms.

A 29-year-old woman presented at 29 weeks' gestation with dysphagia, weight loss, and a single episode of hematemesis. Esophageal carcinoma was diagnosed on endoscopy, and local spread confirmed by MRI. A Caesarean section was performed at 32 weeks' gestation, and shortly afterwards the patient underwent thoracotomy, but resection of the tumour could not be performed. Palliative treatment was begun and she was discharged from hospital.

Clinicians must be aware and include the probability of esophageal cancer in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal symptoms during pregnancy.