A Case of Radiotherapy During Pregnancy for Oropharyngeal Cancer: Long-Term Pediatric Outcome Evaluation and Literature Review

Oropharyngeal cancer (OphC) is extremely rare during pregnancy, although its incidence is expected to increase in the years to come. Any delay in treatment can heavily affect cancer control and survival. Information regarding radiation therapy during pregnancy and long-term pediatric outcomes is lacking. In this article, we discuss a case of OphC in a pregnant woman, treated with surgery and radiation therapy, offering also an updated review with respect to the limited current evidence of the feasibility and clinical results of radiation therapy during pregnancy. A 39-year-old pregnant woman (through assisted fertilization) with locally advanced OphC underwent surgery and subsequent radiation therapy. A special fetal shielding device and a modified planning optimization strategy were used to reduce the dose to the fetus as much as possible. Phantom and in vivo dosimetry were performed to estimate the dose to the fetus and the related risks, according to International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) publication 90. Thanks to the actions taken, the mean dose to the fetus was estimated to be around 50 mSv. A healthy baby was born at 33 weeks of gestation + 6 days. After a 10-year follow-up, the patient is in complete remission, and her 16-year-old daughter is healthy with good school performance. Adjuvant radiation therapy in OphC during pregnancy may be optimized to reduce the dose to the fetus, and the measures taken represent a realistic option to ensure the mother and baby's health.