News

Safety of ultrasound questioned

Pregnant women are routinely exposed to a diagnostic technology which may often be inappropriate and possibly harmful, according to a new report.

The technology is ultrasound scanning, which most women undergo at least once or twice during pregnancy. But the safety of the technique is unproven, say Beverley Lawrence Leech and Jean Robinson, the authors of a detailed review of ultrasound in the latest issue of AIMS Journal.

’Our main concern isn’t to argue against ultrasound, but to point out that it has yet to be properly assessed,’ says Ms Robinson. ‘We want women to be informed, and to judge for themselves.’

The report argues that scanning, originally intended for women with potential problems, is now considered a routine part of care. Some women are reporting as many as eight or nine scans in a pregnancy. The authors cite studies suggesting a link between ultrasound and increased risk of miscarriage, possible damage to the fetal nervous system and doubtful diagnostic accuracy in some conditions.

Obstetricians say the report raises unnecessary fears. ‘There’s no convincing evidence that ultrasound is harmful. On the contrary, the evidence shows that it is entirely safe’, says the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The Association for Improvements in Maternity Services is calling on the government to monitor the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound screening in pregnancy, and wants better information collected on the costs and benefits of ultrasound use.