Cervical cancer – a real medical challenge when diagnosed during pregnancy

Abstract

One of the most common malignancies diagnosed during pregnancy is cervical cancer. If a local examination and a Papsmear have not been done for screening, when some symptoms appear during pregnancy, they might be easily mistaken for pregnancy early related complaints. The treatment of cervical cancer during pregnancy should take into consideration many factors including the size of the tumor, lymph node involvement, gestational age, the wish of pregnancy continuation and fertility preservation. All these factors make the optimal treatment decision difficult to be taken and suggest that a multidisciplinary team including an obstetrician, neonatologist, medical oncologist, psychologist, pathologist, and radiologist, is necessary for the best management. This article reviews the existing studies, guidelines and recommendations regarding the diagnosis and management of cervical cancer during pregnancy.