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Pancreatic Neoplasms in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Complications, and Management

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Neoplasms of the pancreas during pregnancy are rare, with less than 25 cases of benign and malignant tumors reported in the literature.

Methods

We present three unique cases of pancreatic tumors occurring during pregnancy—one mucinous cystic neoplasm and two adenocarcinomas. We review the literature regarding pancreatic neoplasms during pregnancy and discuss the diagnosis, complications, and management of these tumors.

Results

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound are the imaging modalities of choice in pregnancy. In patients with benign or premalignant tumors, surgical resection may be postponed until the second trimester. In symptomatic patients, or if there is a concern for intrauterine growth restriction, urgent surgical intervention should be performed. With malignant tumors, the benefit of delaying surgery must be balanced with the risk of maternal disease progression. Termination of the pregnancy should be discussed when a malignant tumor is diagnosed during the first trimester. Pancreatic tumors diagnosed during the third trimester may be resected after delivery. If malignant, early delivery of the fetus and subsequent maternal operation can be considered at appropriate fetal maturity.

Conclusion

When these tumors occur during pregnancy, they present a diagnostic and treatment dilemma, with variation in treatment based on gestational age and patient preference.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the NIH K07 Cancer Prevention, Control, and Population Sciences Career Development Award (grant number 1K07CA130983-01A1 and T32 DK007639).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, JSA 6.312, Galveston, TX, 77555-0542, USA

    Casey A. Boyd, Jaime Benarroch-Gampel, Gokhan Kilic & Taylor S. Riall

  2. Department of Surgery, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA, USA

    Edward J. Kruse

  3. Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA

    Sharon M. Weber

Authors
  1. Casey A. Boyd
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  2. Jaime Benarroch-Gampel
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  3. Gokhan Kilic
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  6. Taylor S. Riall
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Correspondence to Casey A. Boyd.

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Boyd, C.A., Benarroch-Gampel, J., Kilic, G. et al. Pancreatic Neoplasms in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Complications, and Management. J Gastrointest Surg 16, 1064–1071 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-011-1797-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-011-1797-y

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