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Table 21-1

Estimated Fetal Radiation Exposure With Common Imaging Modalities

ImagingFetal Absorbed Dose (mGy)a
Plain radiograph
Chest (PA, left)0.001-0.002
Abdominal (AP)1-3
Extremities0.001
Cervical spine<0.001
Thoracic spine0.003
Lumbar spine (AP, lat)1
Limited IVP6
Barium enema7
Mammogram0.2
Computed tomography
Head0.5
Chest0.1
Pulmonary angiogram0.2
Abdomen4
Abdomen/pelvis25
KUB10
Background (control)0.5-1
Threshold risk100-200

Abbreviations: AP, anteroposterior; IVP, intravenous pyelogram; KUB, kidneys, ureter, bladder; lat, lateral; PA, posteroanterior.


a1 rad = 10 mGy; 1 mGy = 0.001 Gy.

bData from SadroCT, DubinskyTJ. CT in pregnancy: risks and benefits. Appl Radiol. 2013;42(10):6-16.