Journal of Radiology
Open Access

Abstract

The use of radiation in diagnostic exams during pregnancy raises a lot of questions among clinicians and patients. Being a matter of great impact in our clinical practice, in this review we task the risks of radiation to the fetus, the doses in which this occurs, the most sensitive periods for radiation exposure and how should a medical professional behave in this situation. Between the 8th and 15th weeks of gestation there is a higher risk for most deleterious effects. The deterministic effects require a dose above 100-200 mGy in order to occur, being the risk consider negligible at 50 mGy. It is important to highlight that no diagnostic exam exceeds this dose. However, measures to diminish dosage should be kept and nonionizing measuresought to be preferred whenever possible. Every radiology center should have its own data onfetal radiation exposure. This systematic review poses as a guideline for every doctor dealing with possibly pregnant patients that require a diagnostic exam with radiation.

Biography

Mafalda Gomes has completed her degree in Basic Health Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Porto, the best medical school in Portugal, in 2012. She is engaged in one of the biggest hospitals in the country and gained clinical experience in Hospital S Joao, with internships in Hospital Pedro Hispano and Povoa de Varzim-Vila do Conde Hospital Center. In 2015, she finished her Master’s degree in Medicine in the same Faculty of Medicine. Her thesis was recently published in an international journal with an impact factor of 1.6.

Email: mafalda_gomes91@hotmail.com