Rhabdomyosarcoma treated with chemotherapy during the third trimester.
BACKGROUND
Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive tumor that is rarely found in pregnancy, and is usually treated with multiagent chemotherapy. Chemotherapy given during pregnancy is associated with several maternal-fetal complications, including risks for mutagenicity, myelosuppression, and fetal death.


METHODS
An 18-year-old woman had stage III facial rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed early in the third trimester. She achieved clinical remission with multiagent chemotherapy given during pregnancy, with no fetal complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Invasive rhabdomyosarcoma is biologically predisposed to metastasize, and in the absence of effective chemotherapy, most patients will develop sites of distant recurrence. Chemotherapy plays an important role as frontline treatment in pregnant women with rhabdomyosarcoma.
Martin
D
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, USA.
Winter
S S
SS
Gardner
M O
MO
Nicklaus
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D018232:Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide