[Intl_DxMedPhys] Out of Field Fetal Dose Calculations

[Dimitris Mihailidis, PhD]

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For the specific clinical case in question, when in doubt simulate with a measurement, using a simple plastic phantom, using film(?), TLD(?) at the distance of where the fetus would be relative to the irradiated area of the patient, same imaging protocol parameters, at relevant to an average fetus depth.
Literature has variety of resources for fetal dose calculations in CT imaging.  For other imaging modalities, various measurements of peripheral doses are also published.  

It seems to me that there is no guidance on dose estimation of fetal dose in medical imaging--and things get more complex when nuc med imaging is folded in, but let's stick with external x-ray imaging modalities.   For those who are brave enough, a Task Group proposal on this topic may be necessary.  

Dimitris Mihailidis
Philadelphia