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Radiation Injury Reviewed 10/2010

Robert Feldman
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BASICS

  • Description
  • Etiology

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Essential Workup
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Pre-hospital
  • Initial Stabilization
  • ED Treatment
  • Medication (Drugs)
  • In-patient Considerations
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Radiation in this chapter refers to ionizing radiation.
  • Alpha (α)—helium nucleus; does not penetrate skin
  • Beta (β)—electron; penetrates tissue a few cm
  • Gamma (γ)—photon; penetrates body
  • Neutron—very penetrating; not detected by Geiger counter, but neutron emitters also emit γ radiation
  • Radioisotope/radionuclide—chemical element that emits radiation from its nucleus:
    • Radioactivity cannot be destroyed, only relocated or shielded.
    • Being radioactive does not change element’s other chemical and physical properties, such as heavy metal toxicity.
  • Exposure/irradiation—patient has been in presence of ionizing radiation:
    • Whole body or only certain areas may be exposed.
  • Contamination—radioactive material where it is not desired:
    • Internal—within body (eg, lung)
    • External—outside body (skin, hair, clothing)
  • Dose ...

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