Matthew Maynard MS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nelia Long, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

John Aris, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Roger Yale Shifrin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Toshiba Corporation

Wesley E. Bolch PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pregnant females may undergo a variety of medical imaging procedures wherein organs of the developing fetus receive doses from ionizing radiation. Quantifying radiation dose to the fetus, from either unintentional or emergency-based medical imaging of the mother, is critical for documenting exposure and for making critical decisions regarding fetal health. This study improves upon previous anatomic and dosimetric models of the pregnant female and developing fetus by constructing a series of pregnant female computational models capable of organ-level and bone-specific radiation dose assessments for both fetus and mother.

CT image sets of pregnant mothers at fetal gestational ages spanning normal pregnancy were obtained from the PACS archives of Shands Hospital (Gainesville, FL) and reviewed by a qualified radiologist for normalcy of gross maternal and fetal anatomy. For each image set, soft tissue organs of interest were contoured, reviewed for accuracy, and inserted as 3D volumes into the abdominal region of a computational model of the adult non-pregnant human female previously developed at the University of Florida. A series of eight fetal computational models spanning the range of normal gestational ages was recently developed at UF and is capable of organ-level and bone-specific quantification of radiation doses. Each of these fetal models was inserted into the gravid uterus of the corresponding female model, yielding a comprehensive series of computational models representing the pregnant human female at eight fetal gestational ages.

A comprehensive series of computational models representing the pregnant human female at eight fetal gestational ages capable of organ-level and bone-specific radiation dose assessment of both fetal and maternal tissues. See accompanying figure for a visual representation of the 35-week (post-conception) pregnant female.

The completed series of pregnant female computational models accurately represents both maternal and fetal anatomy for the purposes of assessing radiation doses from CT, interventional fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine imaging, and is therefore a valuable tool for quantifying radiation doses to individual organs during diagnostic imagining.

Tracking of individual fetal organ doses from CT, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine is possible with improved computional models of developing fetus and pregnant mother.

Maynard, M, Long, N, Aris, J, Shifrin, R, Bolch, W, Potential Tracking of Fetal Organ Dose During Medical Imaging of the Pregnant Female with the UF Series of Computational Pregnant Female Models.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12043882.html