Patient Gonadal and Fetal Shielding Education Module

A set of education modules was recently developed by the CARES committee, whose membership draws from several imaging specialties, including radiologic technologists, educators, regulators, health and medical physicists and radiologists.

The modules provide information about the history of patient gonadal and fetal shielding, the scientific basis for its widespread implementation in the 20th century, and the science and clinical context behind recent recommended practice changes.

The educational content will be hosted by three collaborating organizations:

American College of Radiology
AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM

CARES: Changing How We Think About Patient Fetal & Gonadal Shielding

CARES: Factors that Reduce the Effectiveness of Gonadal Shielding

CARES: Fetal Shielding

CARES: Historical Perspective

CARES: Introduction to the AAPM Position Statement on the Use of Patient Gonadal and Fetal Shielding

CARES: Understanding the Radiographer's Role in Radiation Safety and Image Quality

Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences
Category A Credits
   For technologists through AEIRS

American Association of Physicists in Medicine
CAMPEP Credits
  For medical physicists through AAPM

Program Materials

Introduction to the AAPM Position Statement on the Use of Patient Gonadal and Fetal Shielding

Release Date: 7/26/2021

Expiration Date: 7/25/2024

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:
  1. Define fetal and gonadal shielding.
  2. Discuss the changing practice of fetal and gonadal shielding.

Physician Accreditation Statement

The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher, a maximum of 3 attempts will be allowed. Upon successful completion of the post-test, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.

Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at info@acr.org.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

The following planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose:
Darcy Wolfman, MD; Bill Algee; Jennifer Elee; Donald Frush, MD; Dustin Gress, MS; Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS); Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; Linda Kroger, MS; Brad Lofton, MS; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD; Jennifer Michael, Ed.D, R.T. (R); Greg Morrison, MA, R.T. (R), CNMT, CAE; Cynthia Rigsby, MD; Dan Schwartz, MD; Keith Strauss, MS; Yogesh Thakur, PhD; Jessyca Wagner, MSRS, R.T. (R); John Winston, MS; Lori Zelna, MS, R.T. (R)(MR); Alexis LaCount

The following faculty members have no financial relationships to disclose:
Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R)

Historical Perspective

Release Date: 7/26/2021

Expiration Date: 7/25/2024

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

  1. Summarize the history and radiobiology that motivated the regulatory guidance of gonadal shielding.
  2. Outline the radiation dose reduction efforts since the 1950’s.
  3. Recognize the scientific advances that have reshaped recommendations for gonadal shielding.

Physician Accreditation Statement

The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher, a maximum of 3 attempts will be allowed. Upon successful completion of the post-test, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.

Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at info@acr.org.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

The following planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose:
Darcy Wolfman, MD; Bill Algee; Jennifer Elee; Donald Frush, MD; Dustin Gress, MS; Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS); Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; Linda Kroger, MS; Brad Lofton, MS; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD; Jennifer Michael, Ed.D, R.T. (R); Greg Morrison, MA, R.T. (R), CNMT, CAE; Cynthia Rigsby, MD; Dan Schwartz, MD; Keith Strauss, MS; Yogesh Thakur, PhD; Jessyca Wagner, MSRS, R.T. (R); John Winston, MS; Lori Zelna, MS, R.T. (R)(MR); Alexis LaCount

The following faculty members have no financial relationships to disclose:
Keith Strauss, MS

Fetal Shielding

Release Date: 7/26/2021

Expiration Date: 7/25/2024 

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

  1. List the effects of ionizing radiation on a fetus.
  2. Describe how much radiation a fetus is exposed to when the mother has an imaging exam.
  3. Identify the benefits and risks of fetal shielding.

Physician Accreditation Statement

The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher, a maximum of 3 attempts will be allowed. Upon successful completion of the post-test, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.

Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at info@acr.org.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

The following planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose:
Darcy Wolfman, MD; Bill Algee; Jennifer Elee; Donald Frush, MD; Dustin Gress, MS; Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS); Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; Linda Kroger, MS; Brad Lofton, MS; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD; Jennifer Michael, Ed.D, R.T. (R); Greg Morrison, MA, R.T. (R), CNMT, CAE; Cynthia Rigsby, MD; Dan Schwartz, MD; Keith Strauss, MS; Yogesh Thakur, PhD; Jessyca Wagner, MSRS, R.T. (R); John Winston, MS; Lori Zelna, MS, R.T. (R)(MR); Alexis LaCount

The following faculty members have no financial relationships to disclose:
Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD

Factors that Reduce the Effectiveness of Gonadal Shielding

Release Date: 7/26/2021

Expiration Date: 7/25/2024

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

  1. Describe the anatomical variations related to the male and female gonads that inhibit accurate gonadal shielding.
  2. Summarize how current knowledge regarding the hereditary risks of radiation exposure and tissue weighting factors have changed over the past 50 years.
  3. Discuss the technological changes related to automatic exposure control (AEC) in radiographic and CT equipment and the effect these changes have on radiation does when shielding is placed within the x-ray field.

Physician Accreditation Statement

The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher, a maximum of 3 attempts will be allowed. Upon successful completion of the post-test, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.

Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at info@acr.org.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

The following planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose:
Darcy Wolfman, MD; Bill Algee; Jennifer Elee; Donald Frush, MD; Dustin Gress, MS; Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS); Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; Linda Kroger, MS; Brad Lofton, MS; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD; Jennifer Michael, Ed.D, R.T. (R); Greg Morrison, MA, R.T. (R), CNMT, CAE; Cynthia Rigsby, MD; Dan Schwartz, MD; Keith Strauss, MS; Yogesh Thakur, PhD; Jessyca Wagner, MSRS, R.T. (R); John Winston, MS; Lori Zelna, MS, R.T. (R)(MR); Alexis LaCount

The following faculty members have no financial relationships to disclose:
Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS

AAPM CARES: Changing How We Think About Patient Fetal & Gonadal Shielding

Release Date: 7/26/2021

Expiration Date: 7/25/2024

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

  1. Describe the AAPM 2019 Position Statement.
  2. Explain why the CARES committee was formed.
  3. Outline the concerns from various groups.

Physician Accreditation Statement

The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher, a maximum of 3 attempts will be allowed. Upon successful completion of the post-test, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.

Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at info@acr.org.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

The following planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose:
Darcy Wolfman, MD; Bill Algee; Jennifer Elee; Donald Frush, MD; Dustin Gress, MS; Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS); Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; Linda Kroger, MS; Brad Lofton, MS; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD; Jennifer Michael, Ed.D, R.T. (R); Greg Morrison, MA, R.T. (R), CNMT, CAE; Cynthia Rigsby, MD; Dan Schwartz, MD; Keith Strauss, MS; Yogesh Thakur, PhD; Jessyca Wagner, MSRS, R.T. (R); John Winston, MS; Lori Zelna, MS, R.T. (R)(MR); Alexis LaCount

The following faculty members have no financial relationships to disclose:
Rebecca Marsh, PhD

AAPM CARES: Understanding the Radiographer’s Role in Radiation Safety and Image Quality

Release Date: 7/26/2021

Expiration Date: 7/25/2024

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

  1. Explain the current best practices in fetal and gonadal shielding to patients, families, and colleagues.
  2. Optimize radiation dose to patients following current evidence-based safety practices.
  3. Advocate for compassionate care and safety while utilizing image optimization practices to obtain high quality radiographic images.

Physician Accreditation Statement

The American College of Radiology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

The American College of Radiology designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to successfully complete the activity, participants must complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher, a maximum of 3 attempts will be allowed. Upon successful completion of the post-test, participants must complete an activity evaluation and claim credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.

Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact the ACR at info@acr.org.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The ACR Disclosure Policy: In compliance with ACCME requirements and guidelines, the ACR has developed a policy for disclosure and review of potential conflicts of interest, and a method for resolution if a conflict does exist. The ACR maintains a tradition of scientific integrity and objectivity in its educational activities. In order to preserve these values and ensure its educational activities are independent and free of commercial bias, all individuals, including planners, presenters, moderators and evaluators, participating in an ACR educational activity, or an activity jointly provided by the ACR must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

The following planners and managers have no financial relationships to disclose:
Darcy Wolfman, MD; Bill Algee; Jennifer Elee; Donald Frush, MD; Dustin Gress, MS; Kelli Haynes, R.T. (R); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS); Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; Linda Kroger, MS; Brad Lofton, MS; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Rebecca Marsh, PhD; Sarah McKenny, PhD; Jennifer Michael, Ed.D, R.T. (R); Greg Morrison, MA, R.T. (R), CNMT, CAE; Cynthia Rigsby, MD; Dan Schwartz, MD; Keith Strauss, MS; Yogesh Thakur, PhD; Jessyca Wagner, MSRS, R.T. (R); John Winston, MS; Lori Zelna, MS, R.T. (R)(MR); Alexis LaCount

The following faculty members have no financial relationships to disclose:
Nina Kowalczyk, PhD, R.T. (R) (CT)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS; ; Bruce Long, MS, R.T. (R)(CV); Stephanie Johnston, MS, RS, R.T. (R)(M)(BD) (BS)