Fetal dose during radiotherapy: clinical implementation and review of the literature.
Two pregnant patients received radiation therapy, one for the treatment of mediastinal Hodgkin's lymphoma and the other for a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The fetuses were both protected by additional shielding which reduced the unshielded exposure of the first fetus by 20-40%, and that of the second by 20-60%. The first child received an estimated maximum dose of 42 cGy, the second a maximum dose of 9 cGy. Treatment details are reported and a review of the literature that addresses the possible irradiation-induced side effects at low doses is included.
Nuyttens
J J
JJ
Department of radiation oncology, medical university of South Carolina, 169 Ashley avenue, SC 29425, Charleston, USA.nuyttens@rtdh.azr.nl
Prado
K L
KL
Jenrette
J M
JM
Williams
T E
TE
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000532:radiotherapy*