Counseling patients exposed to ionizing radiation during pregnancy

Abstract

Health physicists and knowledgeable clinicians have the responsibility to counsel women of reproductive age about the reproductive risks of ionizing radiation exposure that occurs either before conception or during pregnancy. Medical personnel need to realize that lay individuals have many misconceptions about the reproductive risks of ionizing radiation. Further, many patients are apprehensive about the reproductive and developmental risks of diagnostic radiological procedures. Counseling patients requires knowledge of embryology, genetics, radiation teratology, and the principles Artículos e informes especiales / Articles and special reports Key words: pregnancy; pregnancy outcome; radiation, ionizing; abnormalities; risk factors; teratogens; counseling.

Cáncer De Colon Y Embarazo: Reporte De Caso Y Revisión De La Literatura

“…Si bien la etapificación y sobrevida por etapas son similares en ambos grupos, el pronóstico durante el embarazo es peor, a consecuencia de un diagnóstico frecuentemente tardío y el hallazgo de una enfermedad más avanzada (7,8). La consulta es generalmente tardía debido a la confusión con síntomas propios del embarazo, además, los exámenes diagnósticos ideales como la TAC o la colonoscopía son postergados por potenciales riesgos fetales, especialmente durante el primer trimestre (9,10). En nuestro caso, como en otros (8,11,12), la rectorragia fue atribuida inicialmente a hemorroides.…”

“…La TAC de abdomen es el examen de elección en pacientes no embarazadas (29), sin embargo, está contraindicada durante el embarazo debido a su potencial riesgo fetal, sobre todo en el primer trimestre (10). La ecotomografía abdominal es el examen de elección para evaluar el hígado durante el embarazo, es un examen seguro y con una sensibilidad de 75% en presencia de metástasis mayores de 2 cm (30).…”

Occupational Radiation Protection of Pregnant or Potentially Pregnant Workers in IR: A Joint Guideline of the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe

“…A potentially pregnant or declared pregnant worker may be extremely concerned about the outcome of the pregnancy following exposure to occupational radiation, and a counseling session with her (and the father, if possible) is often useful. A calculation of conceptus exposure by a qualified medical physicist/medical physics expert can be informative and reassuring (17). In the United States, upon formal written declaration of pregnancy by a woman, the employer is required to provide counseling that includes the potential effects of radiation exposure to the embryo and fetus (5).…”

“…However, pregnant radiation workers may have heightened concerns about the risks to their unborn child (14,15). These workers, including those who are medical professionals (16), have many misconceptions about the risks of ionizing radiation on the developing fetus (17). Even minimal radiation exposure to the conceptus can provoke significant concerns on the part of the expectant mother or her physician (18).…”

The role of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology in the field of public health

“…Irrational fear of radiation leads many pregnant women who have undergone radiological tests or treatment to worry about the effects of radiation on their developing baby and to consider terminating their pregnancy. Brent (13) describes some of these cases and the outcome of counseling provided for women in such situations.…”