RadiologyInfo.org

Computer Tomography (CT) Safety During Pregnancy

Illness during pregnancy

If you become ill during pregnancy, both you and your unborn child become patients. However, prior to treatment, your doctor has to determine the medical issue and the possible conditions that could be affecting you and your baby.

top of page

Changes during pregnancy

As your body and metabolism change, sometimes a problem with the pregnancy or a separate disease in the abdomen can be difficult to distinguish. This is when medical imaging, or radiology, becomes useful.

Imaging exams are used to see inside the body and help determine if there is a medical issue. Computed tomography (CT) is a widely used imaging exam.

CT uses x-ray; therefore, it is used only when necessary.

top of page

Imaging without x-rays

In a pregnant patient, where both the baby and mother are being imaged, other imaging exams, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), that do not involve x-rays are sometimes used.

However, when ultrasound or MRI does not provide the answers needed, or there is a time constraint, CT may be the best imaging option.

top of page

CT risks during pregnancy

If the abdomen or pelvis is not being imaged, such as in chest or head CT, then there is no risk to the baby.

If the CT scan includes the abdomen or pelvis, then there may be a slight risk to the baby. An unborn baby exposed to CT during pregnancy may have a one in 1,000 greater chance of developing a cancer as a child.

The goal, however, is to take care of the mother, who has a much greater chance of developing a serious illness, such as appendicitis.

top of page

Contrast material

For some CT exams, contrast material may need to be injected intravenously into an arm vein.

Contrast material does cross the placenta to your baby; however, it has been used in pregnancy for decades without harm.

top of page

CT during pregnancy

An illness is not pleasant, and a significant illness during pregnancy can be especially serious. However, the baby depends on the mother to stay healthy and to carry her pregnancy through. If helping the mother become better means performing a CT exam, then it will benefit the baby’s health as well.

top of page

This page was reviewed on June 24, 2015

Images

Radiologist discussing CT exam results with pregnant patient View full size with caption

Produced by

Please note

RadiologyInfo.org is not a medical facility. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database.

This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Discuss the fees associated with your prescribed procedure with your doctor, the medical facility staff and/or your insurance provider to get a better understanding of the possible charges you will incur.

Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.

Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo.org provides links to relevant websites. RadiologyInfo.org, ACR and RSNA are not responsible for the content contained on the web pages found at these links.