Metastatic unknown primary tumor presenting in pregnancy as multiple cerebral infarcts.
BACKGROUND
Cancer presenting during pregnancy is a rare event. There are no reports of an unknown primary tumor presenting during pregnancy.


METHODS
A 35-year-old primigravida presented at 16 weeks' gestation with multiple cerebral infarcts. After a negative workup she was discharged on anticoagulation therapy, only to return at 29 weeks with diffuse, metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin. After an elective 32-week delivery she received aggressive chemotherapy but ultimately died 5 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Malignancy should be included in the differential diagnosis of unusual, unexplained cases of thromboembolism in pregnancy.
Berghella
Vincenzo
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Broth
Richard E
RE
Chapman
Andrew E
AE
Cardonick
Elyce
E
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second