The role of outpatient clinics in the timely detection of an oncological pathology in pregnant women

Malignancies during pregnancy are a significant clinical and diagnostic challenge due to nonspecific symptoms. Objective. To demonstrate the role of outpatient clinics in the early detection of malignancies, illustrated by a clinical case of cholangiocarcinoma in a pregnant patient. Materials and methods. A clinical case is presented of a 33-year-old pregnant woman who presented to an outpatient clinic with pain in the right hypochondrium and weight loss. Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examinations were performed, including ultrasound, biopsy with histological examination, and positron emission tomography. Results. At the outpatient stage, signs of gall bladder neoplasm were detected. Timely referral to an oncologist and additional examination made it possible to establish the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (gallbladder cancer), T1N0M0. The pregnancy was terminated. Surgical removal of the gallbladder and lymph nodes was performed, and two courses of chemotherapy were administered. According to the examination results in May 2025, the patient was healthy, with no relapses. Conclusion. This clinical case highlights the crucial role of primary healthcare in the timely detection of malignancies. Outpatient doctors need to maintain oncological awareness even with nonspecific symptoms, especially in pregnant women.