J Korean Surg Soc.
2001 Jan;60(1):41-46.
Clinical Analysis of 8 Cases of Pregnancy Associated Breast Cancer
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Surgery, Samsung Cheil Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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PURPOSE: Although breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy, it is a comparatively rare finding during pregnancy or lactation with a reported occurrence of approximately 1 out of 3,000 pregnancies. The diagnosis of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) remains challenging because of the associated anatomical and physiologic changes in the breast, and the treatment of PABC is complicated by potential fetal injury secondary to both radiation therapy and chemotherapy. We will describe eight cases of PABC, review special considerations of unique diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and discuss childbearing-related issues in survivors.
METHODS
The medical records of 8 patients with PABC who had been treated between August 1988 and May 2000 at the Department of Surgery, Samsung Cheil Hospital were retrospectively reviewed for clinical, radiological, and pathological findings, treatment modalities, and follow-up results.
RESULTS
The incidence of PABC was about 0.01% (8 cases of PABC/71,401 pregnancies). One of eight died from carcinomatosis at 47 months after diagnosis, and the remaining 7 patients are free of disease. Two women terminated pregnancy at 28 weeks, one of which had twins. The remaining 6 babies were live births and healthy, two of whom were exposed in utero to cancer chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION
The delayed diagnosis of PABC and the coexistence of pregnancy makes the management of PABC difficult, but a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the management of PABC can allow the continuation of pregnancy.
