Colon cancer during pregnancy.
The medical community should become mobilized to diagnose colon cancer earlier in pregnancy to improve prognosis. The primary care physician or obstetrician should refer the pregnant patient with significant gastrointestinal complaints to the gastroenterologist for evaluation. Likewise, the gastroenterologist should be prepared to perform sigmoidoscopy, preferably without endoscopic medications, for significant lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as persistent rectal bleeding. Sigmoidoscopy is particularly sensitive in identifying colon cancer in pregnant patients because their cancers are usually distal and within reach of the sigmoidoscope.
Cappell
Mitchell S
MS
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Woodhull Medical Center, 760 Broadway Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents