Cancer in pregnancy - The obstetrical management

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2024 Apr;103(4):630-635. doi: 10.1111/aogs.14653. Epub 2023 Aug 18.

Abstract

Cancer in pregnancy, defined as a cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, is a rare but severe condition presenting both clinical and ethical challenges. During the last two decades a paradigm shift has occurred towards recommending similar staging and treatment regimens of pregnant and non-pregnant cancer patients. This strategy is a result of an increasing number of reassuring reports on chemotherapy treatment in pregnancy after the first trimester. The management of cancer in pregnancy should be managed in a multidisciplinary team where staging, oncological treatment, social and mental care, timing of delivery, and follow-up of the infant should be planned. Due to the rarity, centralization is recommended to allow experience accumulation. Furthermore, national and international advisory boards are supportive when there is a lack of expertise.

Keywords: advisory board; cancer pregnancy; chemotherapy; multidisciplinary teams; obstetric; oncology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology
  • Obstetrics*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic* / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic* / therapy