Week 8- Early Tissue Reactions Flashcards
What are Early Effects of radiation?
Biological effects of radiation that occur relatively soon after receiving high doses of ionizing radiation
Where does evidence of early effects of radiation come from?
Studies on laboratory animal and data observed from irradiated human populations
What kind of imaging are early effects not common in?
Diagnostic imaging (except high dose fluoroscopic procedures)
What type of radiation produces early effects?
Substantial doses of ionizing radiation
What are somatic effects?
Biological damage sustained by living organism as a consequence of exposure to ionizing radiation
What are genetic effects?
Effects upon future generations because of irradiation of germ cells in previous generations
What are somatic effects dependent on?
Length of time from the moment of irradiation to the first appearance of symptoms
How are somatic effects demonstrated?
As early somatic effects or late somatic effects
What do early tissue reactions depend on?
The duration of time after exposure to ionizing radiation
As radiation dose increases what effect does it have on the severity of early tissue reactions?
The severity of these effects increase
What is a threshold as it pertains to early tissue reactions?
A point at which the reactions appear and below they are absent
What does the amount of biologic damage depend on?
The actual absorbed dose of ionizing radiation
When do early tissue reactions appear?
Within minutes, hours, days or weeks of the time of irradiation
What are some types of high-dose early tissue reactions?
Nausea, erythema, blood disorders, fever, fatigue, epilation, intestinal disorders, dry and moist desquamation, depressed sperm count in males, temporary or permanent sterility and injury to the CNS
What dose of radiation results in many of the high-dose effects?
6 Gyt
What is Acute Radiation Syndrome?
Radiation sickness that occurs in humans after whole-body receives large doses of ionizing radiation in a short period of time and is demonstrated by a collection of symptoms
Where is data obtained from to study the effects of ARS?
- Atomic bomb survivors
- Marshall islanders who were subjected to fallout
- Nuclear radiation accident victims
- Patients who have undergone radiation therapy
What are the three separate dose-related symptoms associated with ARS?
- Hematopoietic syndrome
- Gastrointestinal syndrome
- Cerebrovascular syndrome
What radiation doses produce Hematopoietic syndrom?
From 1-10 Gyt
What radiation doses produce gastrointestinal syndrome?
Appear at a threshold dose of 6Gyt and peak at 10 Gyt
What radiation dose produces cerebrovascular syndrome?
Results from doses of 50 Gyt or more
What are the 4 stages of ARS?
- Prodromal stage
- Latent period
- Manifest illness
- Recovery or death
What is the prodromal stage of ARS?
Initial stage of symptoms appearing at 1 Gyt dose
What symptoms appear as part of the prodromal stage?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and leukopenia
When does the prodromal stage appear?
Within hours and may last up to 3 days after exposure
What is the latent period of ARS?
The second stage where the patient is apparently well and appear to be recovered
When does the latent stage appear in ARS?
Around a week after exposure
How long does the latent period last?
From a few hours (with highest doses) to weeks for the lowest doses
What is the manifest illness stage of ARS?
When the 3 manifest illness stages appear, each based on dose of radiation received (Hematologic, Gastrointestinal or Cerebrovascular)
What is the hematopoietic system?
Manufactures the corpuscular elements of the blood and is the most radiosensitive vital organ system in humans
In what dose range is Hematopoietic syndrome not lethal?
When doses of 1-2 Gyt are received
What is the main feature of hematopoietic syndrome?
Destruction of the bone marrow, which results in a depression of all blood cell counts
What are the symptoms of hematopoietic syndrome?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decrease in number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, hemorrhage and infection
When may death occur in Hematopoietic syndrome?
6-8 weeks following exposure over 2 Gyt
When is hematopoietic syndrome considered to be more severe?
At the high end of dose ranges up to 10 Gyt
When can patients who survive hematopoietic syndrome expect to make a full recovery?
In around 6 months, but they will be at an increased risk of long term effects in life
What are the different measurement ranges Gastrointestinal Syndrome occurs in?
6-10 Gyt, or 1000-5000 rad
What is the survival rate of Gastrointestinal syndrome?
0% its always lethal
What is the lethal aspect of gastrointestinal syndrome?
Damage to the stem cells of the intestinal epithelium that result in severe vomiting and diarrhea, accompanied by intestinal bleeding
What is the impact of stem cell death in gastrointestinal syndrome?
When the stem cells die, the existing ones are no longer able to produce new cells and the lining wears away
What are the other symptoms of Gastrointestinal syndrome?
Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, lethargy, anemia, leukopenia, hemorrhage, infection, electrolyte imbalance and emaciation
When does death occur in gastrointestinal syndrome?
Within 3-10 days after the appearance of major symptoms
What is the most severe manifest illness of ARS?
Cerebrovascular syndrome
What are the different measurement ranges Cerebrovascular Syndrome occurs in?
Above 50 Gyt or 5000 rad
What is the main feature of cerebrovascular syndrome?
Destruction of cells in the brain and spinal cord
What are the main symptoms of Cerebrovascular syndrome?
All the same symptoms as hematopoietic and gastrointestinal plus excessive nervousness, confusion, lack of coordination, loss of vision, burning sensation of the skin, loss of consciousness, disorientation, shock, periods of agitation, alternating with stupor, loss of equilibrium, meningitis, prostration, respiratory distress, vasculitis and coma
When does death occur in cerebrovascular syndrome?
Within hours to 3 days after radiation exposure
How was ARS caused by the Chernobyl accident?
During the explosion at the side, contaminants were ejected upward into the atmosphere 3 miles high