AUTHOR=Diciolla A. , Gianoni M. , Fleury M. , Szturz P. , Demartines N. , Peters S. , Duran R. , Desseauve D. , Panchaud Monnat A. , Fasquelle F. , Digklia A. TITLE=Gallbladder cancer during pregnancy treated with surgery and adjuvant gemcitabine: A case report and review of the literature JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.1006387 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.1006387 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=Background

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common biliary tract cancer. Prognosis remains poor with 5-year overall survival rates less than 5% in advanced stages. GBCs are diagnosed more frequently in women, supposedly due to endocrine factors.

Case

A 35-year-old woman, diagnosed with a non-metastatic GBC in the 22nd week of gestation, underwent a complete surgical resection 5 weeks later. Adjuvant gemcitabine was administered without complications, temporarily discontinued in the 32nd week to allow childbirth. The patient was disease-free for more than 3 years with ongoing remission at the last visit in July 2022. During the follow-up period, the child had no developmental, cognitive, or other health issues.

Conclusion

Malignant tumors occur in about 0.1% of pregnant women, many are treated with chemotherapy. In oncology, the need to deliver optimal treatment in these patients represents a major concern. Both surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy of locally advanced GBC can be performed safely, with certain considerations, in the second trimester of pregnancy.