Abstract
This paper describes the case of an industrial radiographer who was seriously overexposed to gamma radiation. The exact circumstances of this exposure were not established but it was concluded that he was repeatedly irradiated probably to a total average whole body dose of at least 10 Gy over several years. Also, a much larger dose to a hand required its partial amputation. He developed myelodysplasia, which progressed to acute myeloid leukaemia from which he died. Karyotypic examination of the leukaemic blasts showed changes very similar to those associated with secondary leukaemia that may develop after radio or chemotherapy. The paper describes his medical case history, the investigation of his workplace, and the attempts to estimate his radiation dose by chromosomal analysis of blood lymphocytes and electron spin resonance of dental enamel and bone.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- HARTWELL S. W., Jr, HUGER W., Jr, PICKRELL K. RADIATION DERMATITIS AND RADIOGENIC NEOPLASMS OF THE HANDS. Ann Surg. 1964 Nov;160:828–834. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196411000-00008. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Johansson B., Mertens F., Heim S., Kristoffersson U., Mitelman F. Cytogenetics of secondary myelodysplasia (sMDS) and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (sANLL). Eur J Haematol. 1991 Jul;47(1):17–27. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1991.tb00556.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Levine E. G., Bloomfield C. D. Leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes secondary to drug, radiation, and environmental exposure. Semin Oncol. 1992 Feb;19(1):47–84. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lloyd D. C., Purrott R. J., Dolphin G. W. Chromosome aberration dosimetry in a case of over-exposure to radiation. Nature. 1973 Jan 5;241(5384):69–70. doi: 10.1038/241069a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pedersen-Bjergaard J., Philip P., Mortensen B. T., Ersbøll J., Jensen G., Panduro J., Thomsen M. Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, preleukemia, and acute myeloproliferative syndrome secondary to treatment of other malignant diseases. Clinical and cytogenetic characteristics and results of in vitro culture of bone marrow and HLA typing. Blood. 1981 Apr;57(4):712–723. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pedersen-Bjergaard J. Radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia. A review. Leuk Res. 1992;16(1):61–65. doi: 10.1016/0145-2126(92)90102-d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tilkorn H., Drepper H., Ehring F. Indications for the treatment by plastic surgery of the effects of radiation and radiolesions on the skin. Br J Radiol Suppl. 1986;19:131–134. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]