PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mohammad Yaghoobi
AU  - Gideon Koren
AU  - Irena Nulman
TI  - Challenges to diagnosing colorectal cancer during pregnancy
DP  - 2009 Sep 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - 881--885
VI  - 55
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/9/881.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/9/881.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2009 Sep 01; 55
AB  - QUESTION My patient is 13 weeks pregnant and has experienced rectal bleeding and vomiting. Should I send her for a colonoscopy to rule out colorectal malignancies or should I wait until after delivery? ANSWER The data on colorectal cancer in pregnancy are scarce; however, as the presenting features of colorectal cancer overlap with those of pregnancy itself, there is a risk of development of advanced disease, with poorer prognosis at diagnosis. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that this patient, who is in her second trimester, undergo at least a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is presumed safe during pregnancy, with or without a liver ultrasound and carcinoembryonic antigen detection based on pretest probability according to her other risk factors.