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Trauma CT in pregnancy

CT of a pregnant woman with fetus in-utero.

Exposing a pregnant woman and fetus to ionizing radiation is not something that is taken lightly. Alternatives should be considered, yet it is sometimes necessary, such as in cases of high energy trauma like this case.

Approximately 30% of trauma patients are women of childbearing age, and nearly 15% of those will be pregnant at the time of trauma. In the setting of trauma CT is used to evaluate the mother. An obstetric ultrasound is done first to rule out fetal injury.

Fetal radiation doses from CT examinations of abdomen and pelvis rarely exceed 25 mGy. Based on risk data from human in-utero exposures, the absolute risks of fetal effects are small at doses of 100 mGy, and negligible at doses of less than 50 mGy.