How do you approach treatment of a glioblastoma in pregnancy?

Glioblastoma during pregnancy could be treated safely (to mother and fetus) with certain precautions and modifications. Collaboration and consultation with the patient’s obstetrician are essential. External shielding over the patient’s abdomen during treatment will decrease the external scatter radi...

One of the major challenges of treating pregnant patients with intracranial neoplasms is decreased vascular osmotic pressure. This leads to an increase in cerebral edema, more than typically encountered in the non-pregnant patient. Avoid hypotonic fluids and anticipate an increased corticosteroid re...

I would consider proton therapy for 2 main reasons: 1. the health of the mother, and 2. the health of the fetus.

Health of the mother

If IMRT is inadvisable due to high MUs or integral dose to the patient, then one is left with using 3D conformal radiation. I have used 3D conformal radiation to trea...