EFSUMB: safety tutorial: epidemiology of diagnostic ultrasound exposure during pregnancy-European committee for medical ultrasound safety (ECMUS).
The present paper summarizes some of the epidemiological studies of in utero ultrasound exposure and subsequent childhood development. Emphasis is placed on birth weight, childhood malignancies, neurological development, handedness and speech development. The epidemiological evidence does not indicate any association between diagnostic ultrasound exposure during pregnancy and reduced birth weight, childhood malignancies or neurological development. However, a statistically significant association between ultrasound and left-handedness among males has been found in three studies. Thus, there is still need for more research.
Salvesen
Kjell A
KA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Center for Fetal Medicine, Trondheim University Hospital St Olav, N-7006, Trondheim, Norway. pepes@medisin,ntnu.no
D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*