Safety of radiation exposure during pregnancy in COVID-19 affected women

ABSTRACT 

Radiologic imaging in the evaluation of pregnant patients has significantly grown with the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome related to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Lung ultrasound is an emerging non-invasive bedside technique used to diagnose interstitial lung syndrome through evaluation and quantitation of the number of B-lines, pleural irregularities and nodules or consolidations.
In pregnant COVID-19 patients, lung ultrasound should be considered on account of its various strengths, such as its being easily carried out bedside by trained sonographers for the monitoring of lung involvement in follow-ups, and its repeatability and affordability.
However, pregnant patients could need chest radiography or computed tomographic (CT) examinations for the diagnosis of pneumonia. Concerns and misconceptions about potential radiation-related risks for the embryo or fetus are still widespread among clinicians, and can lead to excessive anxiety among patients. Several well-recognized guidance documents were published in the last years as to the safety of a single-phase CT or an X-ray chest and related carcinogenic and teratogenic risk.
This paper summarizes the safety of radiological examination for pneumonia in pregnant women affected by COVID 19, based on the estimated embryo-fetal radiation absorption per procedure (mGy).