Pregnancy testing in patients undergoing radiation therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Radiation therapy (RT) poses significant risks to fetal development.
• Establishing pregnancy status before RT initiation is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the rate of pregnancy risk and appropriate testing in women of child-bearing age undergoing RT.
• To identify gaps in current protocols for pregnancy testing prior to radiation therapy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for female patients aged 12-55 treated with RT over one year.
• Categorization of patients into 'at risk' (with uterus) and 'no risk' (post-hysterectomy) groups.
• Documentation of birth control, pregnancy test status, and timing relative to RT start date.

Main Results:

• Out of 131 patients, 95 (72%) were considered 'at risk' for pregnancy.
• Pregnancy testing was performed in 47% of 'at risk' patients, with only 17% done within the recommended 14-day window before RT.
• A significant majority (66%) of 'at risk' women did not receive appropriate pre-RT pregnancy testing.

Conclusions:

• Most women of child-bearing potential with an intact uterus undergoing RT were not adequately tested for pregnancy.
• Findings underscore the need for improved and standardized pregnancy testing protocols in radiation oncology.
• This study informed the development of formal pregnancy testing policies for women undergoing RT.