A new article by Charlotte LeJeune and colleagues has been published today in The Lancet Oncology, discussing current evidence and recommendations regarding diagnostic imaging during pregnancy, with a focus on the use of abdominal fetal shielding.

The paper highlights the challenges of balancing maternal and fetal safety in oncological imaging and reviews recent evidence showing that routine use of fetal shielding in diagnostic imaging should be discontinued. Advances in imaging technology have significantly reduced radiation exposure, and shielding can, in fact, increase fetal dose or compromise image quality by interfering with automatic exposure control systems.

The authors emphasise the importance of:

• Adhering to the as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) principle,
• Preferring non-ionising techniques such as MRI and ultrasound when possible,
• Engaging medical physicists to optimise CT and radiography protocols during pregnancy,
• Promoting consistent communication among radiologists, oncologists, and obstetricians to ensure evidence-based counselling of pregnant patients.

The article aligns with recent recommendations from AAPM, BIR, and European guidelines.

Read the full article here: Abdominal shielding not recommended for diagnostic imaging with ionising radiation during pregnancy - The Lancet Oncology