Refresher Courses: Collaborative Learning - Jointly organised by the ECR Scientific Subcommittees Genitourinary and Physics in Medical Imaging

RC 1700 - Imaging in pregnant patients: balancing indications, diagnostic accuracy and radiation doses

March 7, 08:00 - 09:00 CET

5 min
Chairpersons' introduction
11 min
Setting the scene: foetal doses and associated risks in diagnostic imaging and beyond
  1. To evaluate the risks from ionising radiation to the foetus, and what are the international recommendations concerning risk assessment.
  2. To be aware of the order of magnitude of foetal doses in different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
  3. To understand how to communicate and support pregnant patients who need diagnosis or treatment with ionising radiation.
11 min
Behind the optimisation: foetal dose-management in radiology procedures
  1. To understand how we can optimise medical imaging for pregnant patients to minimise foetal dose by modifying acquisition parameters.
  2. To be aware of the type and accuracy of the methods and tools available for foetal dose estimation.
  3. To understand and act according to local regulations concerning unintended exposure while considering the spirit of the international recommendation on this topic.
11 min
Clinical indications and existing guidelines for imaging pregnant patients
  1. To remind of the clinical scenarios justifying imaging in pregnant patients.
  2. To enumerate current guidelines for the safe use of X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound when required during pregnancy.
  3. To learn about low-dose CT and non-contrast MRI advancements for safer imaging.
11 min
Focus on renal stone imaging in emergency
  1. To detail current indications requiring urgent imaging evaluation during pregnancy.2. To learn how to evaluate ultrasound, low-dose CT, and MRI for safe stone diagnosis of stone migration during pregnancy.3. To explore dual-energy CT and advanced ultrasound for improved renal stone detection with minimal radiation.
11 min
Panel discussion: Evidence vs. perception - are we too conservative in imaging pregnant patients?