Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and pregnancy: presentation of 16 cases.

Chemotherapy and obstetric care of 16 pregnant patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are reported in this paper. All patients received chemotherapy during the various trimesters of pregnancy, including 8 cases during the first trimester, and there was no evidence of congenital malformations in any offspring. Fifteen babies are alive, healthy, and at a normal level of growth 3 to 11 years after birth. Eight mothers who achieved complete remission are alive and free of disease, 4 to 9 years after delivery, without maintenance treatment and would be considered cured. On the basis of the present study it was concluded that pregnancy is not a contraindication for treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, cytotoxic drugs do not necessarily cause congenital malformations, and long-term remission can be achieved in these mothers.