@article{article_1568145, title={Fetal Dose in CT Scans During Pregnancy}, journal={Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi}, volume={16}, pages={89–101}, year={2025}, DOI={10.22312/sdusbed.1568145}, author={Kara, Ümit}, keywords={Clinic Radiation, Organ Doses, Radiology}, abstract={Objective: In situations where computed tomography (CT) scans are necessary for pregnant patients, such as in cases of trauma or other conditions that provide clinical benefit, accurately estimating the radiation dose to which the fetus is exposed is crucial. However, current methods are not sufficiently practical or feasible for routine clinical use. This study aims to assess and calculate the fetal dose and associated organ doses resulting from CT scans in pregnant patients using the Monte Carlo Simulation Method. Methods: Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and related calculations were conducted on pregnant patient phantoms for different gestational periods (8-15 weeks) using a 64-slice CT scanner (Discovery CT750 HD GE Healthcare) to estimate fetal doses. Organ dose calculations were also carried out. The MC code simulating dose distributions was validated with measurements from the CT Dose Index (CTDI) following AAPM protocols. Volumetric CTDI values from the MC simulations were normalized, enabling the development of a calculation algorithm for fetal dose assessments across different body regions and exposure settings. The algorithm, approved by the institutional review board, was validated through patient-specific MC simulations on CT data from pregnant patients (with gestational ages of 8-15 weeks) who had undergone CT scans. Results: Based on the data, it can be concluded that the fetus was exposed to low radiation doses, which do not present significant risk to fetal development. The doses observed in the study fell within acceptable clinical limits, indicating that fetal radiation exposure during CT scans can be managed safely with appropriate protocols. However, minimizing radiation exposure during pregnancy is essential. The use of low-dose protocols, as demonstrated in this study, is especially important for these patients. Moreover, the study’s findings highlight the importance of optimizing CT scan parameters and adopting radiation reduction strategies in routine clinical practice. Alternative imaging methods that utilize non-ionizing radiation, such as ultrasound or MRI, should also be considered when clinically appropriate. Conclusions: This study provides a clinically applicable approach to calculating fetal radiation doses during CT scans. The developed algorithm can help reduce fetal exposure and ensure patient safety. Future studies could expand on this research by validating the algorithm in larger patient cohorts and different gestational stages. The findings emphasize the need for radiology technologists to use the lowest possible dose protocols and explore non-ionizing imaging alternatives whenever feasible. .}, number={1}, publisher={Süleyman Demirel University}