Analysis of the Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis of Pregnancy with Gastric Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Abstract BackgroundTo summarize the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of pregnancy with gastric cancer.MethodsThe clinical data of pregnant patients with gastric cancer diagnosed and treated in our hospital from 2009.1 to 2019.12 were analyzed. Two sex-, age-, and stage- matched controls for each case were identified from the medical data. Clinical characteristics, pathological features and prognosis were summarized.ResultsThe median overall survival time of the pregnancy with gastric cancer and the control group were 8.0 months and 11.0 months, respectively (P = 0.05). The advanced stage was associated with poor prognostic factors. Pregnancy with gastric cancer was associated with a longer time from diagnosis to treatment (19.0 days vs 9.0 days, p = 0.012). The median age was 32 years old (26.0ཞ41.0 years old). The diagnosed time of prengnancy week was 9.0 ~ 37.0 weeks. Of 22 patients, 4 patients had gastric cancer family history. Abdominal pain (6/22, 27.3%) was the most common presentation, and other symptoms were nausea and/or vomiting (3/22, 13.6%), nonspecific dyspepsia (3 cases, 13.6%), and melena (1 case, 4.5%). Other 9 patients (41.0%) were identified with metastatic features, including abdominal distention, ascites, abdominal mass, and jaundice. 5 cases(22.7%) received curative gastrectomy, 5 patients (22.7%) received chemotherapy,and other 12 patients (54.6%) received supportive therapy. ConclusionsThe prognosis of patients with gastric cancer in pregnancy is very poor, and patients often cannot be diagnosed in time. The tumor differentiation is poor with advanced stage, always progresses rapidly with high mortality. And the tumor stage was the significant factor influecing the prognosis.