Week 3.4 Ionizing Radiation

Question 1

what is ionizing radiation

Answer 1

radiation that frees electrons from atoms or molecules

Question 2

what are the effects of ionizing radiation

Answer 2

deterministic effects (tissue reactions: killing functioning cells)
stochastic effects (cancer and heritable effects)

Question 3

Air kerma

Answer 3

dose absorbed in absence of scatter

Question 4

dose area product

Answer 4

integral of air kerma, especially from X-ray tube

Question 5

what about absorbed dose

Answer 5

dose from the beam and scatter

Question 6

effective dose

Answer 6

compared dose to different body parts

Question 7

absorbed dose is the …

Answer 7

radiation energy that is deposited in the patient

Question 8

equivalent dose

Answer 8

absorbed dose that is adjusted for harmful effects (gonads more susceptible than others)

Question 9

effective dose

Answer 9

equivalent dose that is adjusted for the harm it causes in different tissue, taking into account risk of exposure

Question 10

which has more of an ionizing dose, CT or x-ray

Answer 10

CT

Question 11

is the effective dose of children higher in adults or kids

Answer 11

kids

Question 12

radiation concerns are much higher for kids than adults because

Answer 12

increased risk of caner

Question 13

why is the risk of cancer so much higher in kids

Answer 13

rapid cellular growth and division and longer life expectancy. The DNA is more prone to damage, and the longer life means they have more time to get cancer.

Question 14

kids get an increased risk of breast cancer following

Answer 14

chest films or x-rays for scoliosis

Question 15

what organs are at risk for cancer in kids

Answer 15

thyroid gland, breast, bone marrow, brain and skin, and increased risk leukemia

Question 16

what must we consider with imaging

Answer 16

the risks vs the benefits of exposing them, especially kids and pregnant women