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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #385 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Exposures to embryo/fetus

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Is there software to calculate fetal radiation exposures? If we know the technique used and the number of films shot would this software produce a fetal exposure?

There is software available which will assist in the calculation of fetal dose from administration of radiopharmaceuticals to the mother. You can check the RADAR website for more information if you are interested. I am not aware of any available software to calculate fetal dose from standard x-ray exams. I've also consulted with some colleagues on this question—they aren't aware of any available software either. The Center for Devices and Radiological Health has issued pamphlets (sometimes referred to as Rosenstein's tables) for the manual calculation of dose from standard x-ray exams. Publications, such as FDA 89-8031 for common projections in diagnostic radiology, give organ doses based on a 1 R entrance skin exposure (ESE). You can scale the numbers according to your institution's measured ESEs. The uterus dose can be used to estimate fetal dose.

Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist

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