Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
08:34
Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
20.9K
Ionizing radiation for maternal medical indications.
1Royal Hospital for Women, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Prenatal Diagnosis
|November 8, 2019
Summary
Ionizing radiation exposure during pregnancy is generally safe at diagnostic levels (<50 mGy), with minimal risk of adverse effects. Clinically necessary imaging should not be withheld due to radiation concerns.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Ionizing radiation exposure during pregnancy presents potential risks to the fetus.
- Understanding dose-dependent effects and timing is crucial for risk assessment.
- Emerging research explores transgenerational epigenetic effects of radiation exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety of diagnostic radiation exposure for pregnant patients.
- To assess the risks associated with fetal radiation doses from medical imaging.
- To provide guidance on managing radiation exposure during pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and dose-response data for fetal radiation exposure.
- Analysis of risks associated with diagnostic radiation procedures (fetal dose <50 mGy).
- Modeling of childhood cancer risk based on fetal radiation dose (e.g., 10 mGy).
Main Results:
- Diagnostic radiation procedures with fetal doses below 50 mGy are not linked to increased lethality, genetic damage, teratogenicity, growth impairment, mental retardation, or sterility.
- A fetal dose of 10 mGy is associated with a low excess risk of childhood cancer (1 in 4545).
- High-dose exposures are unlikely in routine occupational, diagnostic, or therapeutic settings.
Conclusions:
- Clinically indicated diagnostic imaging in pregnant patients should not be withheld due to concerns about fetal radiation exposure below 50 mGy.
- The benefits of necessary diagnostic procedures should be weighed against potential risks.
- Radiotherapy may be considered during pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks and alternatives are unavailable.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
985
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...
985
01:24X-ray Imaging
9.7K
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923) was experimenting with electrical current when he discovered that a mysterious and invisible "ray" would pass through his flesh but leave an outline of his bones on a screen coated with a metal compound. In 1895, Röntgen made the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human: an "X-ray" image (as it came to be called) of his wife’s hand. Scientists worldwide quickly began their own experiments with...
9.7K
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
17.5K
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...
17.5K
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
439
The most common cardiovascular diagnostic test is an X-ray. It produces images of the heart, blood vessels, and adjacent structures.
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
439
01:27Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
207
Introduction:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, can include a specialized imaging technique of the urinary system known as Magnetic Resonance Urography (MRU). This radiation-free technique uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images with the help of a computer. MRU is particularly effective for visualizing fluid-filled structures like the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.Applications of MRI in the Genitourinary SystemKidneys and Ureters: MRI detects tumors, cysts,...
207
01:17Radiation: Applications
1.7K
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...
1.7K