Unintended pregnancy during radiotherapy for cancer.
BACKGROUND
A 27-year-old woman with upper mediastinum stage IIA Hodgkin lymphoma was treated with six cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine chemotherapy. Two months later she received a total of 4,250 cGy to the upper mediastinum and left clavicular region over a 1-month period. One week after completion of radiotherapy she was found to be 13-weeks pregnant. Her physician advised her to terminate pregnancy. She contacted a teratology information service for further information regarding the risks of radiation exposure for her fetus.


METHODS
Estimation of fetal radiation exposure, literature review and synthesis of published cases and effects of fetal radiation exposure.


METHODS
Estimated fetal radiation dose between 5 and 18 cGy.


RESULTS
Counseling on the possible risks to the fetus as a result of radiation exposure.
de Wildt
Saskia N
SN
Intensive Care, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. s.dewildt@erasmusmc.nl
Taguchi
Nobuko
N
Koren
Gideon
G
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000528:radiation effects; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment