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Answer to Question #2453 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Radiation Workers The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
What is the risk of birth defects in a radiation oncologist who does brachytherapy once per week? Or, stated more clearly—how much radiation exposure do you get per implant with LDR and HDR brachytherapy when using remote after-loading devices and when not using those devices? I'm trying to plan when to have kids and will be starting radiation oncology residency soon.
A
As long as your exposure is below the 50 mrad monthly exposure, you are way below the dose that could affect the fetus. You are talking about scatter radiation. The threshold dose to affect the fetus with regard to birth defects is 20,000 mrad. Pregnant women with exposures below 5,000 mrad are counseled that they are not at increased risk for birth defects. You should be wearing a film badge in two places, under the apron and in an unshielded area. You also must understand that every healthy woman has a 3% risk for birth defects and a 15% risk for miscarriage. We cannot change that background risk. Good luck with your pregnancy. Your film badge readings should be less than 50 mrad/month, which will protect you and any pregnancy that you have.
Robert Brent, MD, PhD, DSc
Answer posted on 9 April 2003. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.
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