Physics Flashcards
What is the threshold for cataracts caused from an acute radiation exposure to the eye (onset > 20 years)?
~0.5 Gy
What is the threshold for circulatory disease caused from an acute radiation exposure?
~0.5 Gy. “An approx threshold dose of 0.5 Gy has been proposed for acute, and fractionated/protracted exposures.” (ICRP)
What is the threshold for acute dose for male infertility?
6 Gy
What is the threshold dose for female infertility?
3 Gy
What is the threshold dose for symptomatic spinal cord injury (myelitis)?
50 Gy delivered in 2 fractions
What is the SI unit for absorbed dose?
Gy or Joule per kilogram (J/kg)
What is acute radiation syndrome?
“Radiation sickness”- spectrum of responses involving hematopoietic, GI, CV and CNS reactions to a large radiation dose received acutely or subacutely to all or most of the body. Follows a dose dependent clinical course divided into prodromal, latent and manifest periods of illness.
What is a deterministic effect?
Injury in populations of cells, characterized by a threshold dose and an increase in the severity of the reaction as the dose is increased further.
What is Linear Energy Transfer (LET)?
The rate of energy loss along the track of an ionizing particle, usually expressed in keV/um.
What is the linear-non-threshold model?
A dose-response model which is based on the assumption that, in the low dose range, radiation doses greater than zero will increase the risk of excess cancer and/or heritable disease in a simple proportionate manner.
What is the SI unit for effective dose?
Sievert (Sv). Unit for equivalent dose, effective dose, and operational dose quantities. Doses in Gy are multipled by a quality factor to obtain Sv.
At what threshold radiation dose do you expect to see early transient erythema?
2 Gy
At what threshold radiation dose do you expect to see main erythema reaction?
6 Gy
At what threshold radiation dose do you expect to see permanent epilation?
7 Gy
What is the maximum dose an individual of the public may receive from the release of patients injected with radioactive materials (e.g. family member of a thyroid ablation pt)?
500 mrem (5 mSv or 0.005 Sv)
What is the max dose limit for a general member of the public without a specific exposure scenario (e.g. waiting room in x-ray dept)?
100 mrem (1 mSv or 0.001 Sv)
What is the physical half-life of fluoride F18?
109 minutes (radprimer)
What is an Auger electron?
An Auger electron is an e that is emitted, rather than a photon, when lower level vacancies are filled. When an L-shell e fills a K-shell vacancy, another L-shell e can be emitted rather than a photon. The emission of an Auger e leaves 2 vacancies.
What is KERMA?
- Kinetic Energy Released per unit Mass (measured Gy)
- Air Kerma is the kinetic energy transferred from uncharged particles (e.g. photons) to charged particles (e.g. electrons).
- Entrance air karma is a measure of the amount of x-ray radiation that is incident on the patient.
- AK has recently replaced exposure as the quantity that measures the amount of radiation in any x-ray beam.
What radiation dose level is associated with Bone Marrow (hematopoietic) Syndrome?
Whole-body exposure to 300-800 rads (3-8 Gy)
-LD50 for humans is 3 to 4 Gy for young adults without medical intervention
What radiation dose level is a/w GI Syndrome?
greater than 8 Gy (other source said >10 Gy)
-Death within 3-10 days without medical care
What radiation dose level is a/w Neurovascular Syndrome?
greater than 20 Gy (other source said >50 Gy)
-Inevitable death within 3 days of exposure
What does LD 50/60 mean?
The dose that would kill 50% of the exposed individuals within 60 days.
What is the LD 50/60 for humans?
Somewhere between 3.5 and 7 Gy (~4 Gy) depending on the level of care.
What is the law of Bergondie and Tribondeau (in relation to radio sensitivity)?
A fundamental law of radiation biology that states that the radio sensitivity of cells is directly proportional to their reproductive activity and inversely proportional to the degree of differentiation. Peripheral lymphocytes are an exception.
Cells are most radiosensitive in:
a) G0
b) G1
c) G2
d) M
Mitosis phase (Radprimer) Cells are most sensitive to the effects of radiation during M or mitotic phase and the gap between S and G2. Cells are less sensitive during G1 and the least sensitive during S.
Cells are least radiosensitive in what phase?
S phase
The lowest acute whole body radiation exposure for which survival is unlikely is:
a) 1 Gy
b) 2 Gy
c) 4 Gy
d) 10 Gy
d) 10 Gy
The most common method of cell death following irradiation is:
a) Mitotic death
b) Division delay
c) Slow death
d) Apoptosis
a) Mitotic death
Apoptosis is also a/w radiation, however mitotic death is more common
A patient is brought to the hospital after exposure to 4 Gy of radiation. They will most likely suffer from:
a) Bone Marrow Syndrome
b) GI Syndrome
c) CNS Syndrome
a) BM Syndrome (>2 Gy exposure). GI Syndrome occurs at 8 Gy. CNS Syndrome occurs at 20 Gy
Temporary sterility in the male requires a gonadal dose of about __ Gy
2 Gy
Permanent sterility in the male requires a gonadal dose of about __ Gy
5 Gy
Temporary sterility in the female requires a gonadal dose of about __ Gy
1.5 Gy
Permanent sterility in the female requires a gonadal dose of about __ Gy
4 Gy
NCRP 160 estimates that the average US population dose from medical exposure is about ____ of that from background sources:
a) 1/10
b) 1/2
c) equal
d) 2 times
e) 10 times
c) Equal
Which of the following would decrease the risk of skin injury?
a) Increasing the mA
b) Increasing the patient thickness
c) Increasing the kV
d) Increasing the fluoroscopy time
c) increasing the kV
What are stochastic (probabilistic) effects?
Stochastic or probabilistic effects are effects that are more likely to occur with increasing dose (proportional to dose). E.g. genetic effects and cancer.