title: Heavy ion radiotherapy during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a safe particle therapy treatment for a pregnant woman with skull-base cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  University clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 27-year-old woman diagnosed for a skull-base chordoma and whose pregnancy was found during the course of radiotherapy with accelerated carbon ions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapy was continued as scheduled, and fetal dose produced by photons and neutrons was measured at each radiotherapy fraction using passive and active monitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiation dose to the uterus. Health of the mother and the newborn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total dose to the uterus was <0.2 mSv. About 30% of this dose was caused by neutrons. Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull base showed no evidence of recurrent disease in the mother. The child was healthy with normal development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heavy ion cancer therapy produces a very low dose in distal organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Münter
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wengenroth
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fehrenbacher
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schardt
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikoghosyan
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durante
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002817:Chordoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D063193:Heavy Ion Radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011874:Radiometry; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes