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Related Experiment Videos

Administered radionuclides in pregnancy.

S J Adelstein1

  • 1Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Teratology
|May 20, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Radiopharmaceuticals administered to pregnant patients pose low fetal risks. Technetium-99m scans deliver minimal radiation doses, well below harmful levels, making them safe when medically necessary or accidentally given.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Radiopharmaceutical Safety

Background:

  • Radiopharmaceuticals are sometimes given to pregnant patients, intentionally or unintentionally.
  • The Society of Nuclear Medicine advises pregnancy testing before procedures exceeding 50 mGy fetal exposure.
  • Minimizing radionuclide dose is crucial when pregnancy is known.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety of radiopharmaceuticals in pregnant patients.
  • To evaluate fetal radiation doses from common diagnostic scans.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding radiopharmaceutical use during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of radiopharmaceutical administration in pregnant patients.
  • Analysis of fetal radiation doses from common diagnostic procedures.
  • Comparison of administered doses with established safety thresholds.

Main Results:

  • Common radiopharmaceuticals, like technetium-99m, deliver <5 mGy fetal doses for various scans.
  • These doses are significantly lower than levels known to cause deterministic effects.
  • Protracted irradiation from radionuclides may further reduce risks compared to acute exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Radiopharmaceutical use in pregnant patients results in low fetal radiation doses.
  • The risks of deterministic and late effects are considered minimal.
  • Current radiopharmaceuticals are unlikely to contraindicate medically necessary use or cause undue concern if accidentally administered.

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