Medical expert of the article
New publications
Diagnostics of radiation damage
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
After acute irradiation, a laboratory examination, including OAK, a biochemical blood test, a general urine test, is performed. Determine the blood group, compatibility and HLA antigens in case of blood transfusion or, if necessary, stem cell transplantation. Lymphocyte counts are performed 24, 48 and 72 hours after irradiation to assess the initial dose of radiation and the prognosis. A clinical blood test is repeated weekly. This is necessary to control the activity of the bone marrow and, if necessary, depending on the clinical course.
Local radiation injuries *
|
Irradiated tissue |
Side effects |
|
Brain |
See the relevant section. |
|
The cardiovascular system |
Pain in the chest, radiation pericarditis, radiation myocarditis |
|
Leather |
Local erythema with intense burning or stinging, xerosis, keratosis, telangiectasia, vesicles, hair loss (within 5-21 days after irradiation). Dose> 5 Gy: moist gangrene, ulcer formation. Long-term effects: progressive fibrosis, squamous cell carcinoma |
|
Sex glands |
Dose <0.01-0.015 Gy: suppression of spermatogenesis, amenorrhea, decreased libido. Dose 5-6 Gy: infertility |
|
Head and neck |
Inflammation of the mucosa, dysphagia, thyroid cancer |
|
Musculoskeletal system |
Myopathy, neoplastic changes, osteosarcoma |
|
Eyes |
Dose 0.2 Gy: cataract |
|
Lungs |
Radiation pneumonitis. Dose> 30 Gy: in some cases fatal pulmonary fibrosis |
|
Kidneys |
Reduced glomerular filtration rate, decreased renal tubular function. Large doses (latent period from 6 months to 1 year): proteinuria, renal failure, anemia, arterial hypertension. Accumulated dose> 20 Gy for <5 weeks: radiation fibrosis, oliguric renal failure |
|
Spinal cord |
Dose> 50 Gy: myelopathy, neurological dysfunction |
|
Fetus |
Growth retardation, congenital malformations, congenital metabolic disorders, cancer, fetal death |
* First of all from radiation therapy.
The relationship between the number of lymphocytes after 48 hours, the dose of irradiation and the prognosis *
|
The lowest lymphocytes, cells / μL |
The dose of irradiation, Gy |
Forecast |
|
1500 (norm) |
0.4 |
A great |
|
1000-1499 |
0.5-1.9 |
Good |
|
500-999 |
2.0-3.9 |
Unclear |
|
100-499 |
4.0-7.9 |
Bad |
|
<100 |
8.0 |
Almost always fatal |
* Irradiation of the whole body (approximate dose).
Pollution. With radionuclide exposure, the whole body is examined with a Geiger counter to detect external contamination. To detect internal contamination in the nostrils, ears, mouth and wounds, they are wiped with moist tampons, which are then tested with a counter. Urine, feces and vomit should also be checked for radioactivity.
[