It does not emit any radiation or use a high-powered magnet.ĭuring an ultrasound, a probe called a transducer is placed on the skin overlying the area of interest, enabling the ultrasonographer to see images of what lies in the deeper layers of tissue.Ĭommonly used during pregnancy to evaluate the health of the pregnancy, ultrasound is also often used to help diagnose conditions in pregnant patients, such as:īecause it doesn’t involve radiation or a magnet, ultrasound is also commonly used in children and patients with pacemakers. Ultrasound (US) uses ultrasonic waves to evaluate deep anatomic structures. So while an MRI without gadolinium is safe, gadolinium MRIs should be avoided during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary to significantly improve the ability of the MRI to evaluate the issue. Having a gadolinium MRI at any time during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of inflammatory conditions, skin conditions, and possibly stillbirth. However, sometimes a contrast called gadolinium is used in an MRI to improve the visibility of certain structures. Because it does not use radiation (like X-rays or CT scans do), it has been considered safe during pregnancy.Ī 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) demonstrated that MRI during the first trimester of pregnancy was not associated with increased harm to the fetus or to early childhood development. MRI is a type of imaging that your doctor may recommend to evaluate soft tissues like tendons, ligaments, or cartilage. These imaging studies are not always practical or available, however, and may not offer your doctor the same information that can be routinely obtained with an X-ray. Whenever possible, if you are pregnant, your doctor will consider using imaging studies that do not emit X-ray radiation to diagnose your injury or condition-such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and ultrasound. You will then be asked to hold still while the machine briefly sends electromagnetic waves (radiation) through your body, exposing the film to reflect your internal structure. They can provide your doctor with important and potentially life-saving information about many medical conditions and are often used to detect bone fractures and dislocated joints after falls and accidents.ĭuring an X-ray, the technician positions the part of your body being X-rayed between the X-ray machine and photographic film. X-rays are the most common and widely available diagnostic imaging technique.
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