[Radiation exposure of the embryo and the fetus: real risks or unjustified fears?].
The authors discuss the problem of radiation damage to the individual developing in utero, and summarize the information available in the literature on the subject. Additional risks induced by ionizing radiations are classified with reference to gestational age and dose absorbed by the fetus. Such risks concern the possibility of mental retardation from the 8th to the 15th gestational week, and of developing a malignant disease from the 3rd to the 15th gestational week. We report the dose values received by the fetus as a result of both radiodiagnostic examinations and the Chernobyl nuclear accident: the doses were generally very low, which leads us to the conclusion that additional risks are of the same order of magnitude as the fluctuations in the natural congenital malformations. Thus, prenatal irradiation for diagnostic examinations does not generally represent a reason to recommend therapeutic abortion. However, it is always important to carry out a careful evaluation of the dose absorbed by the fetus and to correctly inform the mother about eventual radiation-induced risks.
Ferretti
P P
PP
Servizio di Fisica Sanitaria, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, USSL 9, Reggio Emilia.
Restori
E
E
Algeri
T M
TM
Dall'Ara
P
P
Borasi
G
G
D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography / Q000009:adverse effects; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors
Esposizione alle radiazioni dell'embrione e del feto: rischi reali o ingiustificati timori?