Lung cancer in pregnancy: case reports and review of the literature

Abstract

Lung cancer diagnosed in pregnancy is rare. The number of reported cases has been escalating in recent years, probably reflecting the increasing number of women of reproductive age who smoke. This review presents three cases of lung cancer in pregnancy with different manifestations and outcomes, with a review of the literature. Physicians should have a low threshold using different diagnostic tools for investigating unusual symptoms during pregnancy without fear for fetal safety. Once diagnosed, lung cancer represents a major ethical and medical dilemma. The optimal management of lung cancer in pregnancy is not known, because of the rarity of the cases reported during pregnancy and insufficient follow-up data.