Management of Skull Base Tumors in the Obstetric Population: A Case Series

Neoplasms rarely present during pregnancy; however, increases in plasma volume, hormone release-induced growth, and tumor hypervascularity can cause rapidly progressive symptoms of varying severity, ranging from those not requiring intervention to those necessitating emergent operations. Here we describe an algorithm for the management of symptomatic neoplasms in the obstetric population and provide recommendations for surgical indications and timing.

Patients who presented to the skull base clinic at a large tertiary care hospital between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed to identify those who presented with a skull base tumor during pregnancy.

Our study cohort comprised 9 women with a skull base tumor during pregnancy. Four patients presented with symptoms that necessitated emergent skull base surgery, and 5 underwent surgery after delivery or were followed with continued surveillance. All operated patients had a World Health Organization grade I or II meningioma or schwannoma. There were no maternal complications. Based on our experience with this cohort, we have created a management algorithm.

Management of a symptomatic tumor during pregnancy requires balancing the potential for curing the mother and the risk of harming the fetus. Trimester of pregnancy is the most critical factor in evaluating the need for urgent management. The second trimester is the optimal time for surgery, associated with the lowest risk for spontaneous abortion or preterm birth. The first and third trimesters are associated with increased risk of miscarriage and preterm labor, respectively. Induction of labor for preterm delivery, followed by surgery, may be appropriate in the early third trimester. Regardless of the perceived risk, however, all pregnant women with an emergent presentation should be offered surgery, regardless of trimester.