title: Rectal carcinoma during pregnancy.
abstract: Rectal carcinoma presenting during pregnancy is rare with a reported incidence of 0.002%. Management of such an emotionally charged condition can be difficult, especially when the twin goals of curing the disease and preserving the pregnancy are divergent. Four cases of rectal carcinoma presenting during pregnancy are reported. In the first or second trimester of pregnancy, it is possible to resect the tumour with preservation of pregnancy, and in the third trimester, it is best to bring the pregnancy to term before removing the tumour. Unfortunately, the prognosis for such rectal cancer is poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Goh
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*