title: Adjuvant chemotherapy in a pregnant patient with endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary.
abstract: The development of germ cell carcinoma of the ovary during pregnancy is a rare occurrence. Recent advances in chemotherapy have improved significantly the prognosis for patients with early stage disease. Use of cytotoxic agents in pregnancy traditionally has been avoided because of possible teratogenic effects. We describe a pregnant patient who was found to have endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary, stage I, at 13 weeks gestation. She received five courses of adjuvant VAC chemotherapy, beginning with her 17th week of gestation, prior to delivery of a normal infant at term. After an additional seven courses of chemotherapy, a second-look laparotomy revealed no evidence of disease. The infant is developmentally normal at 1 year. A comprehensive review of the literature describing use of chemotherapeutic agents in pregnancy is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Kentucky 40292.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pursell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008649:Mesonephroma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide