What does an overdose of radiation look like?

Kyle Thornton

RADL 70

External and Internal Radiation Exposure

• Retrieved from: http://www.radiation-scott.org/radsource/1-0.htm

Small doses of radiation received over a 15 year period

• Retrieved from: http://www.ratical.com/radiation/CNR/PP/chp2.html

Unexpected new hairstyle, thanks to CT perfusion scans

Lateral projection

PA Oblique Projection

Erythema to face from CT scan errorImage and text retrieved from: http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?

Sec=sup&Sub=cto&Pag=dis&ItemId=88757

• The boy's blood sample was sent for analysis to Dr. David Lloyd, a DNA specialist and principal investigator of the Molecular Design Group of the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Lloyd's analysis of the child's lymphocytes found he sustained substantial chromosomal damage, Stockett said.

• Dr. Fred Mettler, a radiation injury specialist at the radiology department of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, estimates the boy received the following radiation doses: 5.3 Gy to the brain and salivary glands, 7.3 Gy to the skin, and 1.54 Gy to the lenses of both eyes, according to Stockett. The child will probably develop cataracts within three to eights years, Mettler concluded.

• By Donna DominoAuntMinnie.com contributing writerDecember 10, 2009

Patient several hours after receiving 151 CT scans in a 68-minute period.

Radiation Therapy treatment overdose. Image and text retrieved from:

media.cleveland.com/nationworld_impact/photo/. • A New York City hospital

treating him for tongue cancer had failed to detect a computer error that directed a linear accelerator to blast his brain stem and neck with errant beams of radiation. Not once, but on three consecutive days.

• His fatal radiation overdose -- left him deaf, struggling to see, unable to swallow, burned, with his teeth falling out, with ulcers in his mouth and throat, nauseated, in severe pain and finally unable to breathe

• The patient died several weeks later. He was 43.

No action over radiation blunder

• The treatment took place at the Beatson Cancer Centre

• A radiographer involved in a blunder which led to a cancer patient being given the wrong radiation treatment has been allowed to continue practising.

• She admitted mistakes were made as two patients shared the same surname.

• Staff at the clinic failed to check the identity and date of birth of the woman properly before administering the treatment.