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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #4378 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation

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

Are there regulatory limits for diagnostic medical exposure to the fetus of a pregnant patient (not occupational)?

There are no regulatory limits for physician-prescribed medical exposures of the fetus. Generally, if the physician deems a procedure (involving ionizing radiation) necessary and the fetus may be exposed, the physician and the patient should determine whether or not any adverse effects would be anticipated. It is a question of the benefit of doing the exam and the risk of not doing the exam until after birth.

You may also be interested that the American College of Radiology has issued a statement that the level of exposure a fetus might receive from diagnostic levels of radiation is below doses that have the potential to cause biological effects.

Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist

Answer posted on 21 April 2005. The information and material posted on this website 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 Website. 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.