Table 1.

Fetal and maternal breast radiation exposure during diagnostic imaging for pulmonary embolism2,6-8 

TestFetal radiation dose (mGy)Maternal breast dose (mGy)
Chest X-ray <0.01 <0.1 
Perfusion lung scan:   
 Low dose: ~40 MBq 0.02-0.20 0.16-0.5 
 High dose: ~200  MBq 0.20-0.60 1.2 
Ventilation lung scan 0.10-0.30 <0.01 
CT pulmonary angiography 0.05-0.5 ~1-10a (lower with modern CTPA techniques) 
TestFetal radiation dose (mGy)Maternal breast dose (mGy)
Chest X-ray <0.01 <0.1 
Perfusion lung scan:   
 Low dose: ~40 MBq 0.02-0.20 0.16-0.5 
 High dose: ~200  MBq 0.20-0.60 1.2 
Ventilation lung scan 0.10-0.30 <0.01 
CT pulmonary angiography 0.05-0.5 ~1-10a (lower with modern CTPA techniques) 
a

Modern advances in CT technology have greatly reduced maternal breast radiation exposure.7,8  With breast shielding, further reductions in maternal breast absorbed dose can be achieved.2,8 

MBq, megabecquerel.