FAQ

X-rays are used for classic radiology (e.g. photo of a wrist or other body part), for tests of the gastrointestinal system (e.g. X-ray of the oesophagus, X-rays of the colon), the urinary system, for tests of the blood vessels and for CT scans.

• Ultrasound: the image is made using ultratone sound waves.

• MRI: the image is made using a magnet and radio waves.

If you could be or are pregnant), you need to notify the department secretariat, the nurse or the radiologist at the department.

What is the impact of X-rays on the pregnancy?

X-rays are ionising rays. The can disrupt the development of organs of the embryo starting on day one of fertilisation. The impact depends on the type of test, the dosing of the X-rays, the stage of pregnancy and the region being tested.

What if you are pregnant and need to have a test done for medical reasons?

If you are pregnant, a test will only be performed if it is truly necessary for the diagnosis of a medical condition or for a patient's treatment. If the test is quite urgent, it will be performed with the utmost precautions: in this case, you will need to wear a lead apron over the area that will not be examined. The dose will also be reduced to the absolute minimum required.

if possible, the X-ray test will be replaced by another test. For safety reasons, no MRI tests will be performed on pregnant women who are less than 12 weeks pregnant, although the harmful effects from the MRI on the early-developing foetus cannot be strictly proven.

You can find more information on the website for the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control.