Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
08:23
An Automated Microscopic Scoring Method for the γ-H2AX Foci Assay in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes
Published on: December 25, 2021
Radiation exposure and pregnancy: when should we be concerned?
Cynthia H McCollough1, Beth A Schueler, Thomas D Atwell
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. mccollough.cynthia@mayo.edu
Summary
Radiation exposure during pregnancy poses minimal fetal risks, even from diagnostic imaging. Medical professionals should not withhold necessary radiologic and nuclear medicine exams from pregnant women, while keeping doses low.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiation Biology
- Fetal Development
Background:
- In utero radiation exposure can lead to adverse fetal outcomes.
- Risks are contingent on gestational age, dose, and fetal repair capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate fetal risks associated with radiation exposure during pregnancy.
- To inform clinical practice regarding diagnostic imaging for pregnant women.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of dose-response relationships for known radiation effects.
- Estimation of fetal doses from typical radiologic and nuclear medicine procedures.
Main Results:
- Estimated fetal doses from common radiologic examinations are minimal.
- The risk of adverse effects from diagnostic radiation is considered low.
Conclusions:
- Diagnostic radiologic and nuclear medicine examinations should not be withheld from pregnant women.
- Adherence to the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle is crucial for minimizing radiation exposure.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
01:35Mutations
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
Radiological investigations, including X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, are critical for diagnosing and evaluating various medical conditions. These imaging techniques provide valuable insights into the body's internal structures, aiding in the detection of abnormalities, assessment of disease progression, and development of treatment strategies. This article delves into two primary radiological investigations, chest X-rays and CT scans, outlining their purpose, procedures, and the...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Radiological investigations are paramount in the diagnosis and management of various pulmonary diseases. Two essential investigations are the Pulmonary Angiogram and the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:17Radiation: Applications
The average temperature of Earth is the subject of much current discussion. Earth is in radiative contact with both the Sun and dark space; it receives almost all its energy from the radiation of the Sun and reflects some of it into outer space. Dark space is very cold, about 3 K, so Earth radiates energy into it. For instance, heat transfer occurs from soil and grasses, the rate of which can be so rapid that frost can occur on clear summer evenings, even in warm latitudes.
The average...
The average...