If pregnancy status is unknown and imaging is warranted, what should the radiographer do?

• A. Proceed without considering pregnancy.
• B. Assume not pregnant.
• C. Request pregnancy status and apply shielding or delay if non-urgent.
• D. Cancel exam.

Answer: (C)

When there’s a potential pregnancy, protecting a developing fetus from ionizing radiation is a priority. If pregnancy status is unknown, the radiographer should first check with the patient (and the clinical team if needed) to determine whether pregnancy is likely. If the status isn’t known, apply shielding over the abdomen/pelvis to minimize fetal exposure and consider delaying the exam if it isn’t urgent. If the imaging is urgent and cannot be postponed, proceed with the study using the lowest practical dose and with shielding in place to protect the fetus.

This approach avoids exposing a potentially pregnant patient to radiation, while still addressing the medical need. Proceeding without considering pregnancy risks fetal exposure, while assuming the patient isn’t pregnant can miss a pregnancy entirely. Canceling the exam unnecessarily could delay essential care, so verifying status and using shielding or delaying when possible is the safer, more appropriate path.