Healthy birth after chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with superior vena cava syndrome in late pregnancy: A case report

A young woman in late pregnancy (31 weeks of gestation) was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, presenting with bilateral cervical and upper thoracic paratracheal lymphadenopathy that led to superior vena cava syndrome. Her clinical presentation included progressively worsening dyspnea and an inability to lie flat. The initial treatment consisted of a combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin, vincristine, and dexamethasone and etoposide chemotherapy. After tumor shrinkage and symptomatic improvement, the pregnancy was terminated via cesarean section, yielding a healthy neonate. Although the patient was classified as high-intermediate risk, consolidated autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was not performed due to her young age. Notably, NKG2C+ natural killer cells—potentially representing antitumor reactive lymphocytes—were detected during the initial treatment but eventually became undetectable. Overall, the patient achieved a satisfactory and notable treatment outcome.