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Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Is My Mouse Pregnant? High-Frequency Ultrasound Assessment
Published on: March 18, 2021
Imaging Cancer in Pregnancy
Priyanka Jha1, Liina Pōder1, Phyllis Glanc1
1From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, San Francisco, CA 94143 (P.J., L.P.); Department of Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (P.G.); Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn (K.P.L., M. Moshiri); Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Fla (M. McGettigan); Department of Radiology, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France (S.N.); Montpellier Cancer Research Institute, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France (S.N.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn (M.V.R.); Department of Radiology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC (M.C.J.); and Department of Medical Imaging, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel (M.C.J.).
Pregnancy-associated cancer (PAC) is increasing. Imaging and multidisciplinary care are crucial for diagnosis and treatment, balancing maternal and fetal safety. Whole-body MRI is ideal for staging.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Pregnancy-associated cancer (PAC) is cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum.
- PAC incidence is rising due to delayed childbearing and advanced maternal age.
- Physiologic changes in pregnancy can mask cancer symptoms, delaying diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an update on imaging triage, safety considerations, and treatment options for PAC.
- To emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach in managing PAC.
- To review imaging modalities and contrast agent safety during pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and guidelines on imaging and management of PAC.
- Discussion of safety considerations for various imaging modalities, including radiation exposure and contrast agents.
- Highlighting the role of whole-body MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences for staging.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound (US) and MRI are preferred imaging modalities due to lack of ionizing radiation.
- Most imaging examinations involve radiation levels below thresholds for deterministic side effects.
- Iodinated contrast is safe; gadolinium-based contrast should be avoided during pregnancy.
- Whole-body MRI is effective for screening, staging, and guiding biopsies in PAC.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis and staging, considering gestational age, are vital for treatment decisions.
- A multidisciplinary team approach is essential for optimal patient care in PAC.
- Balancing maternal and fetal safety with effective cancer treatment requires careful consideration of imaging and therapeutic strategies.
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