Neuroradiology in women of childbearing age.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes safety concerns associated with diagnostic neuroimaging in patients who are of childbearing age, focusing on diagnostic modalities and radiologic features of neurologic conditions encountered by pregnant women.

RECENT FINDINGS: During pregnancy, women experience a range of physiologic changes that can affect neurologic function. These include endocrine, hemodynamic, endothelial, immunologic, and coagulopathic changes that can alter susceptibility to stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, demyelination, venous thrombosis, and other neurologic conditions. Unique safety concerns are associated with imaging procedures performed to diagnose neurologic conditions that occur during pregnancy.

SUMMARY: This review discusses the use of diagnostic neuroimaging, including administration of IV contrast, in pregnant women and in nonpregnant women of childbearing age.