BackgroundMelanoma accounts for 8% of all malignancies encountered during pregnancy. BRAF kinase inhibitors have shown promise in the treatment of late-stage melanoma; however, there have been no studies and only one previous case report regarding its use in pregnancy.CaseA 25-year-old woman, gravida 1, at 20 weeks of gestation presented to the clinic with a complaint of a lump on her neck and dyspnea. She had had a melanoma that was surgically treated 5 years prior to her pregnancy. A biopsy was performed and she was found to have metastatic melanoma. After multidisciplinary discussion, the patient was offered treatment with vemurafenib, a BRAF kinase inhibitor, and the mass reduced in size.ConclusionMalignancy during pregnancy poses both medical and ethical dilemmas in the management and treatment of cancer. The treatment of late-stage melanoma in pregnancy with a BRAF kinase inhibitor may be an option.

Diagnosis of adnexal masses in pregnancy has been increasing due to the routine use of obstetric ultrasound examinations. The clinical course varies widely based on the symptomatology, gestational age and ultrasound characteristics of the adnexal mass. Most adnexal masses identified in pregnancy are benign and resolve spontaneously. Complications, although relatively rare, can occur and include torsion, rupture and malignancy. This review will discuss the epidemiology, diagnosis, evaluation and management of adnexal masses during pregnancy.