Metastatic muscle invasive bladder cancer in pregnancy.
Nazneen Aslam, Abdul-Hadi Kafagi, Aman Khela et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A woman in her 30s presented during the second trimester with hematuria and left flank pain. MRI identified a T3b bladder tumor with suspected peritoneal invasion. Due to teratogenic risks, chemotherapy was not an option. A multidisciplinary team performed an elective cesarean section at 33 weeks, followed by tumor debulking. Histology confirmed grade 2 bladder adenocarcinoma. The patient later developed metastatic disease requiring palliative chemotherapy.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
This case highlights the complexities of diagnosing and managing advanced bladder cancer during pregnancy, necessitating a coordinated multidisciplinary approach.
Why it matters
The case illustrates the need to balance maternal and fetal safety while addressing the challenges of cancer treatment in pregnant patients.