Exposure of the Pregnant Patient to Diagnostic Radiations
Author: Louis Wagner et alISBN: 9780944838723 ISBN10: 0944838723
Published: 1997 | 259 pp |
OUT OF PRINT
American Journal of Roentgenology | January 1999
"The first edition of this book, published in 1985, was excellent. The second edition is even better. On page XV of the introduction the authors describe the purpose of the book:
This book is designed to provide the physician with knowledge about radiations used in diagnostic radiologic procedures, an understanding of the radiologic data needed to assess the risks for pregnant women, information on the known risks for unborn children, and guidelines to manage and counsel women and their families. It outlines the decisions to be made when a woman, already exposed to radiation, is discovered to be pregnant or when a pregnant woman has medical problems that require diagnostic examination using x-rays, radioisotopes, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance.
"The authors accomplish their purposes. The book is organized on the basis of the logical steps involved in assessing the risks of radiation exposure for a pregnant patient. The style is very readable, and the index is good.
"The book is divided into three parts and has a large number of convenient subheadings. Part I reviews the elementary radiologic principles and physics. The effects of radiation at the various stages of conceptus development are discussed in detail. The section on the absorbed dose from radionuclides has been expanded, and a comprehensive table listing conceptus dose from a wide variety of radiopharmaceuticals is included.
"Part II is basically a decision tree that addresses the clinical treatment of the pregnant patient needing a diagnostic study. Part III has the same format and addresses issues concerning the pregnant patient who has been exposed to radiation. In this section the authors present their recommendations regarding when a pregnancy should possibly be terminated after radiation exposure in light of the recommendations made in the 1977 guidelines of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) (Report 54: Medical Radiation Exposure of Pregnant and Potentially Pregnant Women. Washington, DC: NCRP, 1977). The last chapter of this section presents 23 case histories that illustrate patient treatment.
"In summary, this book should be available in every radiology department.
I recommend it highly."
Richard L. Witcofski
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC