Body CT During Pregnancy: Utilization Trends, Examination Indications, and Fetal Radiation Doses

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to analyze body CT utilization trends, indications, fetal radiation doses, and scanning parameters associated with high fetal radiation doses (defined as > 30 mGy).MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective review of all chest and abdominopelvic CT examinations performed between 1998 and 2005 of patients known to be pregnant was conducted. Demographics, gestational age, examination indication, and scan parameters were recorded. Fetal radiation dose was calculated for those abdominopelvic examinations with direct fetal irradiation.RESULTS. From a database of more than 170,000 chest and more than 180,000 abdominopelvic CT examinations, 74 chest and 86 abdominopelvic examinations of pregnant patients were identified. Chest CT use increased on average 75%/y/1,000 deliveries in pregnancy versus 19%/y increase in all patients (p = 0.2700). Abdominopelvic CT utilization increase was on average 22%/y/1,000 deliveries in pregnant patients versus 13%/y increase in all patients ...

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