Q: I need to have a chest x-ray for Australian immigration but I am 23 weeks pregnant. So far by the grace of God, everything is going smooth. This is my first pregnancy. Is it safe to have an x-ray at this stage? My doctors, sonologist and radiologist are giving me mixed answers, which are confusing me. My immigration has already been delayed and its like the last step for the case to be finalised. Please let me know if I can go through an x-ray, to rule out TB, or not?

A:It is completely safe to have a chest X-Ray at 23 weeks of pregnancy provided an appropriate lead shield is used to cover the region of the abdomen or pelvis. These are routinely available in most X-ray clinics.