Adjuvant chemotherapy in a pregnant woman with endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary

Abstract

Background: The administration of chemotherapeutic drugs during pregnancy is rare. We describe a case of malignant ovarian tumor complicating pregnancy.

Case: After laparotomy at 18 weeks of gestation, the patient received three courses of cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin. Elective cesarean delivery was performed at 31 weeks of gestation. A normal infant was delivered, and no evidence of tumor recurrence was observed. Metastasis to the liver was detected in the fifth month after delivery. However, this was treated successfully with three courses of cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin. There was no evidence of recurrence observed at 65 months after the initial treatment.

Conclusion: Although the risk of chemotherapy to the fetus cannot be assessed based on a single case, this experience is encouraging.