Dr Nalini Newbigging1, Dr Sudha Jasmine1, Dr Sowmya Sathyendra1, Dr Sheba Thomas1, Dr Audrin Lenin1, Dr Kavita Abraham1, Dr Swati Rathore1, Dr Elza Karsynthiew1, Dr Manisha Beck1, Dr Sherin Daniel1
1Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India
Biography:
Dr. Nalini Sarah Newbigging, completed her MD in Medicine in 2019, from Christian Medical College Vellore, India. She .is currently an Assistant Professor at Christian Medical College, Vellore. Her areas of interest include Obstetric Medicine and training in POCUS. She is actively involved in undergraduate and post graduate education.
Abstract:
The American Cancer Society puts a woman’s lifetime risk of developing cancer at 39.3%. Malignancy in pregnancy though rare, affects 1 in 1000-1500 pregnancies worldwide. (1)
This retrospective study aimed to look at the spectrum of cancers among pregnant women admitted to a university teaching hospital in South India. Women who had become pregnant within a year of the diagnosis of cancer or had cancer diagnosed during a pregnancy between 2015-2023 were included in the study.
71 women fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 29 (40.8%) were diagnosed prior to the pregnancy, while 42 (59.2%) were diagnosed during the pregnancy. The malignancies diagnosed in order of frequency were gastrointestinal 16 (22.5%), breast 13 (18.3%), haematological 12(16.9%), thyroid 11(15.5%), neurological 6(8.5%), musculoskeletal 5(7%), gynaecological 4 (5.6%) and renal 4 (5.6%).
The mean age at the time of pregnancy was 27.7 years, and 26 (36.6%) were primigravida. Only 34 (47.9%) continued the pregnancy. 10(14.1%) had vaginal deliveries, 5 (7%) had instrumental deliveries and 19(26.8%) delivered by cesarean section. The mean birthweight was 2.29kg, 15(21.2%) of which were term deliveries, 13(18.3%) were moderate to late preterm, 5 (7%) were very early preterm and 1 (1.4%) was extremely preterm.
All cancers were treated by multidisciplinary teams. 4(2.84%) were initiated on palliative intent of therapy for extensive disease, 3(2.13%) progressed to receive palliative care after their initial therapy, and 2(1.42%) patients died during their course of treatment.
The diagnosis of cancer in pregnancy is challenging; our study estimates >50% undergo medical termination of pregnancy, and one-third have preterm delivery.
Keywords
Cancer,Pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes
References
Albright CM, Wenstrom KD. Malignancies in pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2016 May;33:2–18.