Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

TL;DR

This study examines the outcomes of pregnant women with cancer in Brazil, finding that most pregnancies resulted in term deliveries and healthy newborns.

Contribution

The study provides insights into maternal and perinatal outcomes in a specific Brazilian referral center for pregnant women with cancer.

Findings

Cervical cancer was the second most common cancer type in the cohort.

Most deliveries occurred at term, with newborns appropriate for gestational age.

Despite cancer treatment, most neonates were discharged with their mothers.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women diagnosed with cancer and treated at a single referral center in Brazil. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed medical records from January 2008 to December 2020. Demographic, clinical, obstetric, and tumor-related variables were assessed. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 28) included women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum, while Group 2 (n = 11) comprised those who became pregnant during cancer investigation or treatment. Results: The most prevalent cancers were breast (G1 = 11, G2 = 3), cervical (G1 = 10, G2 = 3), and hematologic (G1 = 2, G2 = 4). Treatment modalities included surgery (n = 11), chemotherapy (n = 21), and inadvertent radiotherapy in one case. Most newborns (n = 25) were delivered at term, with one miscarriage, one fetal death, and one neonatal death reported. Thirty-two newborns were appropriate for gestational age, and thirty-seven were discharged with their mothers. Preterm delivery was indicated for obstetric reasons in 61.5% of cases. Overall survival by cancer type was 54% for breast, 70% for cervical, and 100% for hematologic cancers. The total survival rate was 70.9%. Conclusions: Cervical cancer was the second most common type in this cohort. Most deliveries occurred at term, and newborns were adequate for gestational age. Despite cancer treatment during pregnancy, most neonates were discharged alongside their mothers.

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