Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements

The diagnosis of emergent conditions during pregnancy can be delayed due to insufficient knowledge of fetal radiation doses in different imaging modalities. The aim of this article is to investigate the ranges of fetal doses in most common diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures. Procedur...

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Main Authors: Anja Tomić, Hrvoje Brkić, Tajana Turk, Mladen Kasabašić, Ivana Bjelobrk, Ivana Kralik, Francesca De Monte, Nicola Zancopè, Riccardo Lombardi, Marija Majer, Željka Knežević, Mercedes Horvat, Matko Škarica, Zrinka Marić, Dario Faj, Vjekoslav Kopačin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1143
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author Anja Tomić
Hrvoje Brkić
Tajana Turk
Mladen Kasabašić
Ivana Bjelobrk
Ivana Kralik
Francesca De Monte
Nicola Zancopè
Riccardo Lombardi
Marija Majer
Željka Knežević
Mercedes Horvat
Matko Škarica
Zrinka Marić
Dario Faj
Vjekoslav Kopačin
author_facet Anja Tomić
Hrvoje Brkić
Tajana Turk
Mladen Kasabašić
Ivana Bjelobrk
Ivana Kralik
Francesca De Monte
Nicola Zancopè
Riccardo Lombardi
Marija Majer
Željka Knežević
Mercedes Horvat
Matko Škarica
Zrinka Marić
Dario Faj
Vjekoslav Kopačin
author_sort Anja Tomić
collection DOAJ
description The diagnosis of emergent conditions during pregnancy can be delayed due to insufficient knowledge of fetal radiation doses in different imaging modalities. The aim of this article is to investigate the ranges of fetal doses in most common diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures. Procedures were carried out on an anthropomorphic phantom, Tena, representing a pregnant woman in the 18th week of pregnancy with the fetus in breech position. Different clinical scenarios using computer tomography (CT), radiography, fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography were selected in three teaching hospitals. Measurements were performed using radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeters placed in dedicated holes in the fetal head and fetal body. Measured fetal doses were below 1 mGy when the fetus was not in the primary beam. The highest fetal doses, up to 47 mGy, were measured after a CT scan for polytrauma and up to 24 mGy after a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Significant variability in fetal doses for the same procedure was found between different hospitals but within the same hospital also. All obtained results are below the threshold for deterministic effects given by the International Commission for Radiation Protection but can be reached with two or more imaging procedures employed. The variability in fetal doses for the same procedures highlights the need for the improved optimization of imaging protocols.
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spelling doaj-art-95ec8d90898d49d096166cb7c3d5e0312025-08-20T02:12:38ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-01153114310.3390/app15031143Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom MeasurementsAnja Tomić0Hrvoje Brkić1Tajana Turk2Mladen Kasabašić3Ivana Bjelobrk4Ivana Kralik5Francesca De Monte6Nicola Zancopè7Riccardo Lombardi8Marija Majer9Željka Knežević10Mercedes Horvat11Matko Škarica12Zrinka Marić13Dario Faj14Vjekoslav Kopačin15University Hospital Centre Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Medicine, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity Hospital Centre Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity Hospital Centre Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity Hospital Centre Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaDubrava University Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaVeneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy “Galileo Galilei”, University of Padova, 35121 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy “Galileo Galilei”, University of Padova, 35121 Padua, ItalyRuđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaRuđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaRuđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Medicine, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Medicine, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Medicine, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity Hospital Centre Osijek, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaThe diagnosis of emergent conditions during pregnancy can be delayed due to insufficient knowledge of fetal radiation doses in different imaging modalities. The aim of this article is to investigate the ranges of fetal doses in most common diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures. Procedures were carried out on an anthropomorphic phantom, Tena, representing a pregnant woman in the 18th week of pregnancy with the fetus in breech position. Different clinical scenarios using computer tomography (CT), radiography, fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography were selected in three teaching hospitals. Measurements were performed using radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeters placed in dedicated holes in the fetal head and fetal body. Measured fetal doses were below 1 mGy when the fetus was not in the primary beam. The highest fetal doses, up to 47 mGy, were measured after a CT scan for polytrauma and up to 24 mGy after a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. Significant variability in fetal doses for the same procedure was found between different hospitals but within the same hospital also. All obtained results are below the threshold for deterministic effects given by the International Commission for Radiation Protection but can be reached with two or more imaging procedures employed. The variability in fetal doses for the same procedures highlights the need for the improved optimization of imaging protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1143diagnostic radiologypregnant patientradiation dosephantom
spellingShingle Anja Tomić
Hrvoje Brkić
Tajana Turk
Mladen Kasabašić
Ivana Bjelobrk
Ivana Kralik
Francesca De Monte
Nicola Zancopè
Riccardo Lombardi
Marija Majer
Željka Knežević
Mercedes Horvat
Matko Škarica
Zrinka Marić
Dario Faj
Vjekoslav Kopačin
Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements
Applied Sciences
diagnostic radiology
pregnant patient
radiation dose
phantom
title Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements
title_full Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements
title_fullStr Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements
title_full_unstemmed Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements
title_short Fetal Radiation Dose in Common Diagnostic Radiology Procedures for Pregnant Patients: Findings from In-Phantom Measurements
title_sort fetal radiation dose in common diagnostic radiology procedures for pregnant patients findings from in phantom measurements
topic diagnostic radiology
pregnant patient
radiation dose
phantom
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1143
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