Compare and contrast the possible biological risks and hazards when Essay - 1

Compare and contrast the possible biological risks and hazards when using Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) when imaging a pregnant patient - Essay Example In the process recommendations of how to reduce and ameliorate these risks are critiqued and examined A computed tomography (CT) scan utilises x-rays to provide detailed pictures of structured inside the body of pregnant women (WebMD, 2013). The process is done by getting a pregnant woman to lie on a table that is attached to a CT scanner which is round with an inner-hollow (Romans, 2010; Prokop & Galanski, 2013). The scanner sends x-rays throughout the body and the pictures are studied appropriately (Kalender, 2011). The rotation comes with pictures that are captured and saved on a computer that can be retrieved or printed. CT Scans present more detailed and thorough pictures and images of the area of interest in a medical study or examination (Patient UK, 2014). The system uses conventional radiology and as such, it opens a patient up to the risks of other x-ray systems and processes (DeMaio, 2010; Buzug, 2008). CT Scans opens up a pregnant woman to various risks of radiation during the process, however, the amount of radiation that a pregnant woman will be exposed to varies. Some authorities identify that a patient taking a pregnancy related scan will be exposed to 6.6mSv of radiation which is approximately three years’ worth of background radiation (NHS Choices, 2013). This is obviously very high and could expose a pregnant woman and a foetus to some dangerous levels of radiation. There are various levels of risks that foetuses are directly exposed to during CT scans. The level is examined in a study by Marx et al on the Uterine Radiation Dose (MRAD). The head is exposed to under 50 MRAD, the Thorax is exposed to 10-590 MRADs, the Abdomen, 2800 – 4,600 MRADs whilst the Pelvis is exposed to 1,940-5,000 MRADs (Marx, Lockberger, Walls, & Adams, 2013). However, the inherent benefit is that it is quick and accurate and it is often the best way to check a patient