Fetal dose during radiotherapy: clinical implementation and review of the literature

J J Nuyttens1, K L Prado, J M Jenrette

  • 1Department of radiation oncology, medical university of South Carolina, 169 Ashley avenue, SC 29425, Charleston, USA.nuyttens@rtdh.azr.nl

Two pregnant patients received radiation therapy, one for the treatment of mediastinal Hodgkin's lymphoma and the other for a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The fetuses were both protected by additional shielding which reduced the unshielded exposure of the first fetus by 20-40%, and that of the second by 20-60%. The first child received an estimated maximum dose of 42 cGy, the second a maximum dose of 9 cGy. Treatment details are reported and a review of the literature that addresses the possible irradiation-induced side effects at low doses is included.