Pregnancy screening prior to chemotherapy administration

Intern Med J. 2016 Oct;46(10):1222-1224. doi: 10.1111/imj.13214.

Abstract

A retrospective case notes review was performed to determine compliance with screening for undetected pregnancy prior to commencement of chemotherapy at Flinders Medical Centre. All female patients aged 18-55 who commenced chemotherapy between January and December 2014 were included. During the first 12 months, for women identified as having childbearing potential, pre-chemotherapy pregnancy screening was performed only in 40% of patients under 40 years and in 20.5% of the entire age range.

Keywords: HCG; chemotherapy; pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Australia
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / blood
  • Drug Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / blood
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Tests / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human