Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume 36, Issue 8 , Pages 1221-1223, August 2010

Exposure to Ultrasound in Utero: Epidemiology and Relevance of Neuronal Migration Studies

  • Karel Maršál

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Karel Maršál, MD, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Lund, 22185 Lund, Sweden.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Received 13 May 2009; received in revised form 4 March 2010; accepted 15 March 2010. published online 06 May 2010.

Abstract 

Despite that epidemiological studies did not indicate negative effects on neurological development of offspring when exposed to diagnostic ultrasound, possible association with nonright-handedness in males could not be excluded. In addition, an experimental study on fetal mice suggested that prolonged ultrasound exposure may cause mild disturbance in neuronal migration. No doubt, further studies are warranted. The present knowledge of the potential bioeffects of ultrasound suggests that, when using ultrasound for examinations in pregnancy, fetal scanning without medical indication should be avoided and that adherence to ALARA principle (use of energy “as low as reasonably achievable”) is compulsory. (E-mail: karel.marsal@med.lu.se)

Key Words: Ultrasound, Safety, Human, Fetus, Pregnancy, Animal experiment, Neurodevelopment

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PII: S0301-5629(10)00119-5

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2010.03.009

Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume 36, Issue 8 , Pages 1221-1223, August 2010