Radiation Safety

Question 1

Stochastic Injury

Answer 1

No threshold - after single exposure to cell - DNA injury can cause mutation -> Cancer

Question 2

Deterministic Injury

Answer 2

Threshold - radiation kills a cell - if enough cells killed organ dies - ie hair loss, n/v from sloughing of GI tract lining (cell death), skin injury

Question 3

Reducing radiation exposure during cath

Answer 3

1. Use of fluro store (cine radiation 20x higher)
2. Reduce frame rate (15->7.5fps)
3. Use of collimation
4. Lower magnification
5. Use less steep angulation (use of steeper angles cause less xrays to reach image intensifier (II) so feedback to xray source increases radiation energy since source to image distance is increased
6. Multiple angles to prevent radiation to just one area
   7) reduce source to image (ii) distance
   8) don’t pan over bony substances

Question 4

Thallium 201 Nuclear scan

Answer 4

usually highest radioactive exposure (long half life and slow excretion)