Chapter 6 - Intracranial tumors in pregnancy

Summary

This chapter describes the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of intracranial tumors in pregnancy. Common symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, including nausea and vomiting, can potentially be confused with routine pregnancy related conditions such as hyperemesis gravidarum, thereby posing specific diagnostic challenges for physicians. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is probably the diagnostic imaging procedure of choice and should be performed when a brain tumor is suspected and when seizures appear during pregnancy. Computed tomography (CT), however, is the choice of many physicians for an initial neuroimaging test because of its low cost, widespread availability, and relative short procedure duration, and is considered safe during pregnancy. Surgery and radiotherapy are the main therapeutic procedures. Bromocriptine has been shown to be safe and remains the drug of choice during pregnancy, but should only be used for symptomatic treatment.