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CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 · AJP Rep 2017; 07(01): e39-e43
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1599133
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Management of Breast Cancer during Pregnancy: Are We Compliant with Current Guidelines?

Authors

  • Victoria Shlensky

    1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois

  • Sigrun Hallmeyer

    2   Division of Hematology and Oncology, Center for Advanced Care, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois

  • Lourdes Juarez

    1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois

  • Barbara V. Parilla

    1   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois
Further Information

Publication History

18 October 2016

03 January 2017

Publication Date:
28 February 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of patients with breast cancer in pregnancy treated at the Advocate Health Care, to determine whether these patients were treated according to guidelines for pregnant patients, which aim to maximize both fetal and maternal outcomes.

Methods A retrospective chart review was performed at the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Christ Medical Center, and Illinois Masonic Medical Center from 2002 to 2012 on patients diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy using ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases - 9th version) codes.

Results Eleven patients between 12 and 37 weeks' gestation matched the search criteria. One patient terminated the pregnancy. Patients in our study were treated appropriately according to guidelines with the following exceptions. Trastuzumab was used in one patient during pregnancy which likely caused the oligohydramnios resulting in an induction of labor at 33 weeks. Three patients were delivered preterm between 34 and 36 weeks without an obstetric indication. Two patients underwent sentinel node biopsy.

Conclusion The diagnosis of breast cancer in pregnancy is an infrequent but devastating diagnosis that is likely to increase. Although sentinel lymph node biopsy is not generally recommended in pregnancy, this may be an outdated guideline as using a low-dose lymphoscintigraphic technique appears to be safe in pregnancy.

Keywords

breast cancer - pregnancy - chemotherapy - sentinel node biopsy

Note

This study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, October 16–19, 2013, Napa, CA.