title: Malignancies in pregnancy.
abstract: Malignancy complicating pregnancy is fortunately rare, affecting one in 1000 to one in 1500 pregnancies. Optimal treatment involves balancing the benefit of treatment for the mother while minimizing harm to the fetus. This balance is dependent on the extent of the disease, the recommended course of treatment, and the gestational age at which treatment is considered. Both surgery and chemotherapy are generally safe in pregnancy, whereas radiation therapy is relatively contraindicated. Iatrogenic prematurity is the most common pregnancy complication, as infants are often delivered for maternal benefit. In general, however, survival does not differ from the nonpregnant population. These patients require a multidisciplinary approach for management with providers having experience in caring for these complex patients. The aim of this review was to provide an overview for obstetricians of the diagnosis and management of malignancy in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, USA. Electronic address: calbright@wihri.org.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Albright
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, USA. Electronic address: kwenstrom@wihri.org.
authors.forename: Katharine D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wenstrom
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000628:therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D011878:Radiotherapy; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: chemotherapy; neoplasms; pregnancy; radiation therapy