Teratogenicity in The First Trimester of Pregnancies Exposed to Ionizing Radiation Containing Risks, Preferences for The Continuation of Pregnancy

Ionizing radiation from high-energy photons (X-rays) can cause DNA damage and free radical formation in living organisms causing deleterious effects. The main effects of radiation on the embryo are teratogenesis, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis. In our study, we sought to select women, who did not know that they were pregnant, inadvertently exposed to X-ray, during early gestation, how about their preferences on continued pregnancy. A total of 42 pregnant women who were referred to Bülent Ecevit University Health Practice and Research Center, Pregnancy Policlinic between 01.01.2015 and 01.06.2016 for preliminary diagnosis of X-ray exposure in pregnancy were included in the study. The cases were 32 ± 8 years old. 31 of the cases had numerous direct radiographs, 9 had computed tomography and 2 had scintigraphic scans. After radiation exposure, 42 of the first trimester of pregnancy, 26 of them decided to continue their pregnancy and 16 of them decided termination. The maximal limit of ionizing radiation to be exposed to the fetus during pregnancy is cumulatively 5 Rad (50 mGy), but it is considered to carry a risk to the fetus if it is present at doses of more than one dose or 5 Rad. When the patient’s pregnancy test is positive and radiological examination is necessary; the physician should weigh the benefits and harms of the necessary examination, inform the patients and their relatives about the safety of the radiological examinations, and should take the approvals and do the necessary examination after that