Preservation of pregnancy in a patient with a stage IIIB ovarian epithelial carcinoma diagnosed at 22 weeks of gestation and treated with initial chemotherapy: Case report and literature review

Background. To report a case of successful management of a FIGO stage III endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary diagnosed during pregnancy at 22 weeks of gestation and treated with initial chemotherapy while preserving the pregnancy. Case. The patient underwent a planned cesarean section at 34 weeks after two courses of carboplatin. She delivered a healthy baby. At the same time, a radical hysterectomy, omentectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomies and peritonectomies were carried out. The surgical resection was complete (no macroscopic residual disease). During histologic examination, traces of persistent disease were found. The patient underwent seven postoperative courses of chemotherapy (carboplatin + paclitaxel regimen) after radical surgery. After 18 months of follow-up posttreatment, the patient remains in complete remission and the child's development is normal. Conclusion. Chemotherapy during pregnancy with preservation of the fetus could be considered and should be discussed in case of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) diagnosed during the second trimester of the pregnancy.