Management of the pregnant patient with carcinoma of the breast

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics (with International Abstracts of Surgery); (USA)

OSTI ID:6272568

Barnavon, Y; Wallack, M K ^[1]

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1. Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL (USA)

The diagnosis of carcinoma of the breast during pregnancy poses a challenging dilemma. Although once regarded as incurable, recent reports reveal similar long term survival rates for pregnant and nonpregnant patients who have carcinoma of the breast. When referred to a surgeon, a pregnant woman with a suspicious mammary mass deserves an expedient histologic diagnosis; delay may jeopardize the chances of survival. Once the diagnosis is established, pregnant patients should be treated in a manner similar to nonpregnant patients because there is no evidence that carcinoma of the breast in pregnant women is biologically different than carcinoma of the breast in other premenopausal women. Fears of fetal exposure to radiation should not deter a physician from ordering appropriate preoperative diagnostic tests to stage the patients. Operation may be performed safely when general anesthesia is administered and postoperative adjuvant therapy should be administered when necessary. The involvement of multiple subspecialties in the management of these patients is highly recommended. 52 references.

• OSTI ID: 6272568
• Journal Information: Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics (with International Abstracts of Surgery); (USA), Journal Name: Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics (with International Abstracts of Surgery); (USA) Vol. 171:4; ISSN 0039-6087; ISSN SGOBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BODY
CARCINOMAS
DISEASES
FETUSES
GLANDS
MAMMARY GLANDS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PREGNANCY
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RISK ASSESSMENT
SURGERY
THERAPY