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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Aug 16, 2013; 5(8): 366-368
Published online Aug 16, 2013. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v5.i8.366
Fetal radiation exposure: Is monitoring really needed?
Milena Di Leo, Paolo Giorgio Arcidiacono
Milena Di Leo, Paolo Giorgio Arcidiacono, Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy
Author contributions: Di Leo M, Arcidiacono PG contributed to conception and design, acquisition and interpretation of data, drafting the article and final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Paolo Giorgio Arcidiacono, MD, FASGE, Chief Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, Italy. arcidiacono.paologiorgio@hsr.it
Telephone: +39-2-26436306 Fax: +39-2-26435609
Received: February 17, 2013
Revised: April 10, 2013
Accepted: May 8, 2013
Published online: August 16, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: The effects of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) on pregnant women, addressed in the recent article by Smith et al, is an interesting topic. Despite the large sample of patients investigated by the authors, strong experimental evidence on this topic is still lacking. ERCP should be performed only with a therapeutic purpose and by experienced ERCP endoscopists, preferably during the second trimester of pregnancy.