Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches
Nabeelah Ismail1*, Amal Hassan Abdelaziz2
Abstract
Cervical cancer poses unique challenges during pregnancy, requiring treatment strategies that balance maternal survival with fetal safety. Although antenatal screening has enabled early detection in many cases, particularly in high-income countries, advanced-stage diagnoses remain prevalent in resource-limited settings due to inadequate access to care. Pregnancy-induced physiological changes often complicate diagnosis and staging, with imaging modalities like MRI and colposcopy playing crucial roles, alongside histological confirmation through biopsy. Management strategies vary by gestational age; early-stage disease may allow conservative approaches such as conization or radical trachelectomy, while advanced stages often require neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) during the second and third trimesters, with surgery delayed until postpartum. Chemotherapy administered after the first trimester has shown minimal teratogenic effects, although prematurity remains a concern. Fertility-preservation options, including trachelectomy, have demonstrated favorable reproductive outcomes, but complications such as preterm delivery and cervical insufficiency persist. Ethical dilemmas arise, particularly in first-trimester diagnoses or advanced-stage disease, where aggressive treatments may necessitate pregnancy termination, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary care and robust psychosocial support. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on diagnostic modalities, treatment strategies, and maternal and neonatal outcomes in cervical cancer during pregnancy, highlighting advances in care and identifying gaps in knowledge.
Keywords
cervical cancer during pregnancy; maternal outcomes; neonatal outcomes; ethical dilemmas; neoadjuvant chemotherapy; radical trachelectomy.
Cite This Article
Ismail, N., Abdelaziz, A. H. (2025). Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 6| Issue 1: Jan-Feb 2025, Pages 83-90, URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Volume6-Issue1-Jan-Feb-No.826-83-90.pdf
Volume 6 | Issue 1: Jan – Feb 2025
