Undiagnosed rectal tumour – a rare cause of obstructed labour in the second stage

Colorectal cancer presenting in pregnancy is extremely rare. Here the authors present the case of a 25-year-old woman who was diagnosed with second-stage obstructed labour secondary to a large rectal tumour. Decision for emergency caesarean section was made for labour dystocia. Histology later confirmed villous adenocarcinoma of the rectum. The patient died from metastatic rectal cancer within 2 years of diagnosis.