Document Type : Case Report(s)
Authors
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Research Developmental Unit, Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Mahdieh Hospital, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Neurosurgery, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Pontine and brainstem tumors during pregnancy are rare. However, they carry a high maternal mortality risk due to symptom overlap with common pregnancy-related conditions. Diagnosis and management are often delayed and remain challenging. This study presented two cases of pregnant patients with brainstem tumors. The first case involved an 18-week pregnant woman presenting with otitis-like symptoms, facial palsy, right-sided paresthesia, and paralysis. By the time a definitive diagnosis was established, the tumor had become inoperable, and the patient died from tumor-related complications. The second case involved a 23-week pregnant woman who presented with headache, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, and significant weight loss. The pregnancy ended shortly after admission due to preterm premature rupture of membranes, and the patient subsequently died following tumor resection as a result of massive intracranial hemorrhage. These cases highlighted the high risk of misdiagnosis due to overlap with common pregnancy-related symptoms and highlighted the importance of early neurological evaluation to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely management.
Highlights
Taraneh Arbabzadeh (Google Scholar)
Parya Bamani Moghaddam (Google Scholar)
Keywords
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