1. [Breast cancer during pregnancy and the postpartum period: challenging diagnosis of an aggressive disease].
- Author
-
Bakhuis CFJ, Suelmann BBM, van Dooijeweert C, Moelans CB, van der Wall E, and van Diest PJ
- Subjects
- Female, Pregnancy, Humans, Delayed Diagnosis, Postpartum Period, Prognosis, Breast Neoplasms diagnosis
- Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy. Breast cancer during pregnancy or within the first postpartum year is commonly described as Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer (PABC). PABC often exhibits poorer histopathologic features and has a worse prognosis when compared to young breast cancer patients without a current or recent pregnancy. Here, we describe two cases of PABC in which the presenting symptoms of the patients were interpreted as pregnancy-related changes, causing a diagnostic delay. Therefore, we argue that every pregnant or postpartum woman with changes in the breast must be thoroughly evaluated to exclude the possibility of a malignancy. In case of any suspicion, patients must be referred to a breast cancer center for further evaluation.
- Published
- 2023