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Management of Gynecological Cancers During Pregnancy

  • Gynecologic Cancers (NS Reed, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The diagnosis of a gynecological malignancy during pregnancy is rare but not uncommon. Cancer treatment during pregnancy is possible, but both maternal and fetal interests need to be respected. Different treatment plans may be justifiable and multidisciplinary treatment is advised. Clinical trials are virtually impossible, and current evidence is mainly based on small case series and expert opinion. Individualization of treatment is necessary and based on tumor type, stage, and gestational age at time of diagnosis. Termination of pregnancy is not necessary in most cases. Surgery and chemotherapy (second trimester and onwards) are possible types of treatment during pregnancy. Radiotherapy of the pelvic area is not compatible with an ongoing pregnancy. This article discusses the current recommendations for the management of gynecological malignancies (cervical, ovarian, and vulvar cancers) during pregnancy.

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Acknowledgments

FA is senior clinical researcher for the Research Fund Flanders (F.W.O.). This research is supported by the Research Fund Flanders (F.W.O.), the Belgian Cancer Plan, Ministry of Health, Belgium, and the Clinical Research Fund UZ Leuven (KOF). The authors are grateful to Marie-Astrid Van Hoorick for the administrative support.

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Conflict of Interest

Sileny N. Han, Magali Verheecke, Tineke Vandenbroucke, Mina Mhallem Gziri, Kristel Van Calsteren, and Frédéric Amant declare that they have no conflict of interest

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, and Division of Oncology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Sileny N. Han, Magali Verheecke, Tineke Vandenbroucke & Frédéric Amant

  2. Obstetrics, Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Mina Mhallem Gziri

  3. Perinatalogy, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Kristel Van Calsteren

Authors
  1. Sileny N. Han
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  2. Magali Verheecke
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  3. Tineke Vandenbroucke
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  4. Mina Mhallem Gziri
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  5. Kristel Van Calsteren
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  6. Frédéric Amant
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Correspondence to Frédéric Amant.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gynecologic Cancers

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Han, S.N., Verheecke, M., Vandenbroucke, T. et al. Management of Gynecological Cancers During Pregnancy. Curr Oncol Rep 16, 415 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-014-0415-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-014-0415-z

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