Open AccessNuclear Imaging of a Pregnant Patient: Should We Perform Nuclear Medicine Procedures During Pregnancy?
Author(s) -
Gonca Bural,
Charles M. Laymon,
James M. Mountz
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.292
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 2147-1959
pISSN - 2146-1414
DOI - 10.4274/mirt.123
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , radiation exposure , malpractice , medical radiation , nuclear imaging , obstetrics , nuclear medicine , medical physics , law , genetics , political science , biology
Although it is extremely rare, nuclear imaging of a pregnant woman presents a unique challenge to the nuclear medicine physician because of the high concern for radiation risk to the embryo or the fetus. This challenge has been exacerbated due to recent heightened public concern of medical procedures involving radiation. This awareness also has been emphasized to the referring physicians to the extent that the risks of most nuclear medicine scans are overstressed relative to the benefit. Radionuclide procedures are reluctantly ordered by clinicians in pregnant patients, because of the malpractice fear or because of uncertainty regarding fetal radiation dose. However, when used appropriately, the benefits of nuclear imaging procedures usually outweigh the minimal risks associated with small amount of radiation even in pregnant patients.