NAZENİN İPEK IŞIKCI, MUSTAFA DEMIR
Turkish Journal of Oncology - 2022;37(3):346-350
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to calculate embryo/fetal doses in pregnant women who received 99mTc-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for SPECT/CT scan. METHODS Embryo/fetal doses were estimated for 74 pregnant women underwent SPECT/CT scan from different regions of Turkey. OLINDA/EXM package program was used for radiation dose calculation from internal emitters, while CT dose was calculated from modified soft-tissue CT dose index. RESULTS The highest embryo/fetal dose was found in 99mTc- methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) as (8.88+5.55=14.43 mGy) from both distinct modes (stress and rest imaging). The embryo/fetal dose from MPS slightly increased to 15.63 mGy with the CT dose contribution. Whereas, 99mTc- dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) static renal scintigraphy recorded the lowest embryo/ fetal dose among the other diagnostic procedures (mean 1.06 mGy). CONCLUSION The embryo/fetal doses increased with simultaneous CT scans in nuclear medicine modalities. Questioning pregnancy before scintigraphy is obligatory the first-line strategy to avoid radiation exposure risks.
