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Table 23-1

Fetal Radiation Exposure From Common Radiologic Proceduresa

ProcedureFetal Dose (mGy)
Cervical spine or extremity radiography<0.001
Head or neck CT0.001-0.01
Mammography0.001-0.01
Chest radiography0.0005-0.01
Abdominal radiography0.1-3.0
Lumbar spine radiography1-10
Intravenous pyelography5-10
Double-contrast barium enema1-20
Chest CT or CT pulmonary angiography0.01-0.66
Technetium-99m bone scintigraphy4-5
Abdominal CT1.3-35
Pelvic CT10-50
18F PET-CT whole body10-50

Abbreviations: CT, computerized tomography; PET, positron emission tomography.


aAdapted from the ACOG Committee Opinion, which was adapted from TremblayE, ThérasseE, Thomassin-NaggaraI, Trop I. Quality initiatives: guidelines for use of medical imaging during pregnancy and lactation. Radiographics. 2012;32:897-911.