This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published eLetters: Submit a response to this article Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pavlidis, N. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pavlidis, N. A.

Coexistence of Pregnancy and Malignancy

Department of Medical Oncology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

Correspondence: Nicholas A. Pavlidis, M.D., Department of Medical Oncology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Greece. Telephone and Fax: 30-651-99394 and 30-651-97505; e-mail: npavlid{at}cc.uoi.gr

Cancer complicating pregnancy is a rare coexistence. The incidence is approximately 1 in 1,000 pregnancies. The most common cancers are those more frequently seen during the reproductive age of a woman. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, malignant melanoma, and leukemias are the most frequently diagnosed malignancies during gestation.

The diagnostic and therapeutic management of the pregnant patient with cancer is especially difficult because it involves two persons, the mother and the fetus.

In this paper we review: A) the therapeutic and diagnostic management of these patients; B) the safety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; C) the metastatic pattern of the maternal tumors to the placenta and fetus, and D) the potential recommendations for therapeutic abortion.

Key Words. Pregnancy • Cancer • Diagnosis • Staging • Treatment

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Van Calsteren, L. Heyns, F. De Smet, L. Van Eycken, M. M. Gziri, W. Van Gemert, M. Halaska, I. Vergote, N. Ottevanger, and F. Amant Cancer During Pregnancy: An Analysis of 215 Patients Emphasizing the Obstetrical and the Neonatal Outcomes J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2010; 28(4): 683 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Karacam, O. S. Guralp, D. C. Oksuz, A. Koca, I. Cepni, K. Cepni, and N. Bese THE INVESTIGATION OF FETAL DOSES IN MANTLE FIELD IRRADIATION Radiat Prot Dosimetry, March 19, 2009; (2009) ncp034v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.H. t. Hove, J.M. Zijlstra-Baalbergen, E.F.I. Comans, and R.M. van Elburg An unusual hotspot in a young woman with Hodgkin's lymphoma Haematologica, January 1, 2008; 93(1): e14 - e15. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Pereg, G. Koren, and M. Lishner The treatment of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in pregnancy Haematologica, September 1, 2007; 92(9): 1230 - 1237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Lam Treatment of Burkitt's Lymphoma During Pregnancy Ann. Pharmacother., November 1, 2006; 40(11): 2048 - 2052. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Beyeler, J. Hafner, E. Beinder, J.-C. Fauchere, S. J. Stoeckli, M. Fehr, and R. Dummer Special Considerations for Stage IV Melanoma During Pregnancy Arch Dermatol, September 1, 2005; 141(9): 1077 - 1079. [Full Text] [PDF]