Maternal malignancy involving the products of conception: a report of malignant melanoma and medulloblastoma.

Abstract

Purpose: Cancer in pregnancy is not uncommon, but cases of maternal malignancy involving the placenta or the fetus are much more rare. We report two additional cases.

Patients and methods: We report one case of malignant melanoma discovered during pregnancy and found to have metastasized to the placenta. We also describe a case of maternal medulloblastoma involving the placenta at delivery.

Conclusions: Although maternal malignancy during pregnancy occurs in as many as one in 1,000 pregnancies, involvement of the products of conception is rare. Subsequent malignancy in the fetus is even more rare. We report two cases, one of melanoma and another of medulloblastoma (the first such case described). Both infants are alive and well.