Occurrence of Glioma in Pregnant Patients: An Institutional Case Series and Review of the Literature

Background/Aim: Gliomas present a uniquely challenging clinical situation in the context of pregnancy, with no standard recommendations. This case series aimed to describe the treatment regimen and outcomes of five pregnant patients with gliomas. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study. A patient database from electronic medical records was evaluated to identify pregnant patients with gliomas treated at our institution between 2008-2018. Results: Five study patients who were pregnant with gliomas were identified. Of these, 4 were diagnosed during pregnancy, while 1 was diagnosed prior to her pregnancy. One patient had grade 2 astrocytoma, 1 had grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma, and 3 had grade 4 glioblastomas (GBM). All patients received surgery, and one patient received radiation therapy without concurrent chemotherapy during her pregnancy. All delivered healthy babies. Three of the 5 patients remain alive, and 2 of the 5 were progression-free at the last follow-up. Conclusion: Treatment plans must be specifically tailored to the individual patient based on the glioma grade, the mother's desire to continue the pregnancy, and the risks of delaying treatment until after pregnancy. Additional studies need to be performed to definitively establish uniform guidelines for the treatment of pregnant patients with glioma.