Pregnancy and Radiation Protection

Journal Article · Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2010 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3322523· OSTI ID:21371479

Gerogiannis, J ^[1]; Stefanoyiannis, A P ^[2]

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1. Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia (Cyprus)
2. University General Hospital of Athens 'Attikon', Athens (Greece)

Several modalities are currently utilized for diagnosis and therapy, by appropriate application of x-rays. In diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, radiotherapy, interventional cardiology, nuclear medicine and other specialties radiation protection of a pregnant woman as a patient, as well as a member of the operating personnel, is of outmost importance. Based on radiation risk, the termination of pregnancy is not justified if foetal doses are below 100 mGy. For foetal doses between 100 and 500 mGy, a decision is reached on a case by case basis. In Diagnostic Radiology, when a pregnant patient takes an abdomen CT, then an estimation of the foetus' dose is necessary. However, it is extremely rare for the dose to be high enough to justify an abortion. Radiographs of the chest and extremities can be done at any period of pregnancy, provided that the equipment is functioning properly. Usually, the radiation risk is lower than the risk of not undergoing a radiological examination. Radiation exposure in uterus from diagnostic radiological examinations is unlikely to result in any deleterious effect on the child, but the possibility of a radiation-induced effect can not be entirely ruled out. The effects of exposure to radiation on the foetus depend on the time of exposure, the date of conception and the absorbed dose. Finally, a pregnant worker can continue working in an x-ray department, as long as there is reasonable assurance that the foetal dose can be kept below 1 mGy during the pregnancy. Nuclear Medicine diagnostic examinations using short-lived radionuclides can be used for pregnant patient. Irradiation of the foetus results from placental transfer and distribution of radiopharmaceuticals in the foetal tissues, as well as from external irradiation from radioactivity in the mother's organ and tissues. As a rule, a pregnant patient should not undergo therapy with radionuclide, unless it is crucial for her life. In Radiotherapy, the patient, treating oncologist, other team and family members should carefully discuss for the decision of abortion. Important factors must be considered such as the stage and aggressiveness of the tumour, the location of the tumour, the stage of pregnancy, various therapies etc.

• OSTI ID: 21371479
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1203, Issue 1; Conference: 7. international conference of the Balkan Physical Union, Alexandroupolis (Greece), 9-13 Sep 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3322523; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
CHILDREN
DOSIMETRY
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
HAZARDS
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
PATIENTS
PREGNANCY
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
RADIOTHERAPY
UTERUS
WOMEN
X RADIATION
AGE GROUPS
ANIMALS
BODY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DOSES
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES