title: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue During Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
abstract: Epidemiologic data have shown changes in the demographic profile of patients presenting with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) during the past 4 decades. In particular, there has been a marked increase in the number of young women without a history of smoking presenting with SCC of the tongue. A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results review of patients with head and neck cancer identified 5.3% younger than 40 years. After comparing cohorts from 1973 to 1984 with 1985 to 1997, a 60% increase in tongue cancer in patients younger 40 years was noted. Epidemiologic data also have shown that women are tending to delay childbearing to an older age. These 2 factors have resulted in an increasing prevalence of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. If current trends continue, oral surgeons and maternal fetal medicine obstetric specialists will see an increasing number of pregnant patients presenting with malignancies. This in turn will lead to a number of complex surgical and adjuvant treatment considerations resulting in ethical and moral decisions for which limited data exist to guide best practice. The treatment chosen will affect not only the health of the patient, but also the health of the fetus and ongoing pregnancy. This report describes the case of a woman who was diagnosed with SCC of the tongue at 14 weeks' gestational age. This report presents her treatment course and a review of the literature to support her decisions related to the care given.
authors.affiliation: Fellow in Maxillofacial Oncology and Microvascular Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Electronic address: james.anthony.murphy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Deborah R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.affiliation: Associate Clinical Professor and Program Director, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Director of Medical Physics Residency Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Joann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prisciandaro
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisbruch
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor and Chair, Fellowship Program Director, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Brent B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005927:Glossectomy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy