title: Breast cancer during pregnancy: a mini-review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As modern women delay childbearing, pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) becomes a more frequent problem faced by oncologists, gynecologists, and obstetricians alike. However, no evidence exists concerning the management of this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We summarized the current literature regarding epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of PABC. Data were collected by searching PubMed and Medline for the period from 1950 to 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are no randomized controlled trials regarding PABC management. Current evidence suggests that diagnosis may be carried out with limitations regarding staging; surgical treatment may be performed as for the non-pregnant women. Radiotherapy and endocrine therapy are contraindicated during pregnancy, while chemotherapy is allowed after the first trimester. Prognosis is considered poor. Subsequent pregnancy is allowed only 2 years after completing treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to lack of prospective randomized controlled clinical studies, both ongoing studies and future evidence are expected to solve problems related to breast cancer management during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: inavro@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Navrozoglou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vrekoussis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kontostolis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dousias
authors.affiliation: Lito Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zervoudis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zoras
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paraskevaidis
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome