


Noncarcinogenic effects of radiation on the fetus vary with gestational age and radiation dose. As you consider the risks and benefits of fetal count imaging, keep in mind that the exposure from a single lateral radiograph of the abdomen, estimated from exposures described in human medicine, is 30 to 50 mrem.įETAL COUNT RADIOLOGY RISKS Mutations & Miscarriage

This unit of radiation exposure is the one most familiar to veterinary team members. However, the units used to describe radiation exposure can be confusing.įor this discussion, all units will be converted to millirem (mrem). In order to understand the risks associated with fetal radiation exposure, the veterinarian and veterinary technician must have a working understanding of the amount of radiation used during a fetal count procedure. Fetuses may be counted more than once or not counted at all.īecause of these limitations of ultrasound, radiographic evaluation is the only practical and readily available method of fetal counting in veterinary medicine.Only a small portion of the uterus is imaged in one scanning plane.Ultrasound is inaccurate for assessing fetal number because:
