Abdominal Imaging in pregnancy (maternal and foetal risks).

Imaging studies are useful in the diagnostic evaluation of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, concern often exists about the safety of imaging for pregnant and lactating women and their infants, leading to unwarranted avoidance of beneficial diagnostic tests or disruption of breastfeeding. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not associated with ionizing radiation and are the imaging techniques of choice for pregnant patients. Safety of MRI contrast agent gadolinium in pregnancy is uncertain, therefore MRI without gadolinium should be performed. Intestinal ultrasound where available and MRI without gadolinium can be used to characterise disease complications such as bowel obstruction or intra-abdominal collections. Ionising radiation exposure through computed tomography (CT) is usually at much lower doses than those associated with foetal harm, however CT should be reserved for the rare clinical situations in which ultrasound and MRI are either unavailable or unable to provide the required diagnostic information.