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Cancer in pregnancy: treatment effects

  • Special Section: Cancer in Pregnancy
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Abdominal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Pregnant patients present a unique challenge to cancer therapy. Due to the potential catastrophic implications related to teratogenic effects or pregnancy loss, oncologic management of this vulnerable patient group must be strategic and personalized.

Methods

This article will discuss the unique treatment approach to the pregnant cancer patient. This includes discussion of the role of imaging during staging, treatment, and follow-up with an emphasis on avoiding ionizing radiation when possible.

Results and Conclusion

Specific considerations and modifications to standard cancer treatments, including surgery and systemic therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted and hormone therapies are crucial components of providing oncologic care to minimize negative effects to the mother and developing fetus. Radiation and proton therapy are also options that may be employed in specific circumstances. Finally, this article will address the long-term treatment effects of these therapies on future fertility.

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Funding

Melissa McGettigan No financial disclosures. Kerry Thomas No financial disclosures relevant to this manuscript; equity stockholder MedTronic, UnitedHealthcare, AbbVie, Amgen. Amita Kamath: No financial disclosures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology and Department of Oncologic Sciences, Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA

    Melissa McGettigan

  2. Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Kerry Thomas

  3. Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Amita Kamath

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  1. Melissa McGettigan
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  2. Kerry Thomas
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All authors contributed to the design, material preparation, first draft of the manuscript. All authors commented on drafts, read, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Melissa McGettigan.

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Conflict of interest

Melissa McGettigan contributed to the article by Jha P, et al. Imaging Cancer in Pregnancy. RadioGraphics 2022 42:5. Melissa McGettigan is an unpaid committee member of the Society of Abdominal Radiology Uterine and Ovarian Cancer Disease Focused Panel. The authors do not claim any relevant conflicts of interest and have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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McGettigan, M., Thomas, K. & Kamath, A. Cancer in pregnancy: treatment effects. Abdom Radiol 48, 1774–1783 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-022-03787-9

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