Renal tumors in pregnancy: a systematic review

Summary: Renal tumors are rarely observed in pregnancy, and their symptoms may mimic other pregnancy-related conditions, such as renal calculi, cystitis, and pyelectasia. These tumors are generally characterized by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. The decision to perform surgery depends on the stage of pregnancy. If a patient is diagnosed as having neoplasms in the first trimester, the best choice is to operate as soon as possible. If the diagnosis is made in the second trimester, a better option would be to wait until the 28th week of pregnancy to optimize a fetus’ chances of survival in case preterm labor occurs. If the mass is detected in the third trimester, surgery should be postponed until the end of pregnancy. In this study, the authors reviewed articles on renal tumors during pregnancy published from 1980 to 2015.