Fetal radiation doses and subsequent risks from X-ray examinations: Should we be concerned?

BACKGROUND Pregnant women are sometimes exposed to ionizing radiation in radiology examinations for various reasons. In such cases, the radiation dose to the conceptus and subsequent risks should be estimated. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was the calculation and presentation of fetal dose and subsequent risks resulted from different X-ray examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS An analytical simulation study was conducted and six common radiographies in different views and three types of special examinations were evaluated. The entrance skin exposure (ESE) was measured using a solid-state dosimeter. A Monte Carlo program was used in order to simulate different views of X-ray examinations and calculate the radiation doses received by the conceptus for every view of each examination. Then the risk of childhood cancer and small head size were calculated for different radiographies. RESULTS The fetal doses and consequence risks of the small head size and childhood cancer for the radiographs of chest, skull, and sinuses were negligible but the risks of childhood cancer and small head size due to radiographies of abdomen, lumbar spine, and pelvis areas were ponderable. CONCLUSION RESULTS of this study can be used for the pregnant women radiographies management.