BACKGROUND:

Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy associated with pregnancy. Its treatment is complex due to fetal risks in the context of treatment of the mother.

CLINICAL CASE:

28-year-old patient, referred from the Naval Hospital of Chetumal, Quintana Roo, with 13.1 weeks of pregnancy by date of last menstrual period. The CT scan showed a 70% pleural effusion, another pericardial effusion and suspicion of osteoblastic metastasis to the thoracic spine. Physical examination showed ventilatory dynamics, decreased right amplexion and amplexation, interscapular and right basal hypoventilation, with decreased voice transmission, right basal submatitis and, to the left side, a vesicular murmur. Cytochemical and cytological studies of pericardial and pleural fluid were positive for malignancy. MRI of the spine showed lesions suggestive of tumor activity in the vertebral bodies T12 to L5. Due to the advanced metastatic stage of the cancer, termination of pregnancy was proposed in order not to delay treatment. The biological profile reported: triple negative immunophenotype (estrogen and progesterone receptors: negative, HER2: negative in neoplastic cells). Treatment with systemic chemotherapy (carboplatin-paclitaxel) was indicated.

CONCLUSION:

The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy hinders the detection and interpretation of breast abnormalities, delays diagnosis, allows tumor growth and increases the metastatic risk of the disease. Adequate oncologic treatment and its multidisciplinary assessment are decisive in favoring survival.