Heavy ion radiotherapy during pregnancy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To provide a safe particle therapy treatment for a pregnant woman with skull-base cancer.

DESIGN:

Case report.

SETTING:

University clinic.

PATIENT(S):

A 27-year-old woman diagnosed for a skull-base chordoma and whose pregnancy was found during the course of radiotherapy with accelerated carbon ions.

INTERVENTION(S):

Therapy was continued as scheduled, and fetal dose produced by photons and neutrons was measured at each radiotherapy fraction using passive and active monitors.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):

Radiation dose to the uterus. Health of the mother and the newborn.

RESULT(S):

Total dose to the uterus was <0.2 mSv. About 30% of this dose was caused by neutrons. Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull base showed no evidence of recurrent disease in the mother. The child was healthy with normal development.

CONCLUSION(S):

Heavy ion cancer therapy produces a very low dose in distal organs.

• Authors: Marc W Münter, Marc Wengenroth, Georg Fehrenbacher, Dieter Schardt, Anna Nikoghosyan, Marco Durante, Jürgen Debus
• Journal: Fertility and sterility (Fertil Steril) Vol. 94 Issue 6 Pg. 2329.e5-7 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1556-5653 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20493478 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Carbon Radioisotopes

Topics

• Adult
• Carbon Radioisotopes (therapeutic use)
• Chordoma (radiotherapy)
• Female
• Heavy Ion Radiotherapy
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic (radiotherapy)
• Radiation Protection
• Radiometry
• Skull Base Neoplasms (radiotherapy)