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Review
. 2024 Jun 26;38(3):191-197.
doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1787890. eCollection 2025 May.

Colon Cancer and Pregnancy

Olivia A Sacks  1 , Jennifer S Davids  1
Affiliations
Review

Colon Cancer and Pregnancy

Olivia A Sacks et al. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. .

Abstract

As the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the younger population increases and women start their childbearing journey at later ages, CRC in pregnancy will become an increasingly relevant and decreasingly rare occurrence. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of data on this subject given its historical rarity. CRC is often diagnosed at a late stage in pregnancy because of the conflation of symptoms of pregnancy with symptoms of CRC. A major branch point for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC in pregnancy is whether it is diagnosed early or late in pregnancy. The workup for cancer is similar for pregnant and nonpregnant populations and includes endoscopy and staging computed tomography. Treatment is dependent on the stage of cancer and term of pregnancy. This review summarizes the current evidence for diagnosis, workup, and treatment of CRC during pregnancy and explores issues of fertility after a diagnosis of CRC.

Keywords: colon cancer; oncofertility; pregnancy; rectal cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Colon cancer in pregnancy treatment algorithm. (Adapted from Walsh and Fazio, with permission from Elsevier).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Rectal cancer in pregnancy treatment algorithm. (Adapted from Walsh and Fazio, with permission from Elsevier).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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