Bushong: Radiologic Science for Technologists, 11th Edition

Chapter 33: Deterministic Effects of Radiation

Answers to Challenge Questions

1. a. Gastrointestinal syndrome occurs 3 to 5 days after exposure to 10 to 50 Gyt (1000 to

5000 rad) and results from the destruction of epithelial cells of the small intestine.
b. The period between radiation exposure and the appearance of a radiation response
or, in the case of acute radiation syndrome, the time between the prodromal and the
manifest illness stage.
c. The dose of radiation that will result in death in 50% of irradiated subjects within 60
days. LD50/60 for humans is considered to be approximately 3.5 Gyt (350 rad).
d. A reddening of the skin, such as a sunburn or an x-ray burn.
e. Moist desquamation (ulceration and denudation of the skin) that follows a second
wave of erythema with doses higher than 6 Gyt (600 rad).
f. The stem cell leading to the ovum.
g. Red blood cell.
h. The orderly arrangement of chromosomes into pairs according to size.
i. Loss of hair.
j. A chromosomal aberration resulting in a peculiar arrangement of chromosomal
material and representing severe chromosomal damage.

2. The minimum dose that results in reddening of the skin is: 2 Gyt (200 rad).

3. The prodromal syndrome is the period of acute clinical symptoms that occur within
hours of the exposure to radiation and continue for a day or two. It is the immediate
response of radiation sickness.

4. Hematologic syndrome, gastrointestinal syndrome, central nervous system syndrome.

5. If the dose is not lethal, recovery is stimulated to begin in 2 to 4 weeks, during the
period of manifest illness.

6. The GI syndrome follows after exposure to approximately 10 to 50 Gyt (1000 to 5000

rad).

7. Death occurs principally because of severe damage to the cells lining the intestines.

8. CNS death follows radiation-induced vasculitis, meningitis, and increased intracranial

pressure.

9. Stem cells of the ovaries (oogonia) multiply in number only during fetal life. During
late fetal life, primordial follicles grow to encapsulate the oogonia, which become

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Answers to Challenge Questions 33-2

oocytes. This is the most radiosensitive phase. Prepuberty, when numbers of oocytes have
been reduced, is also a radiosensitive period. Sensitivity then declines to a minimum in
the 20- to 30-year age range, and then increases continually with age.

10. Lymphocytes, thrombocytes, erythrocytes, and granulocytes.

11. Basal cells of the skin are the stem cells; they transform to mature cells and migrate to
the epidermis, the outer skin layer. They are replaced at the rate of approximately 2% per
day.

12. The two most radiosensitive cells of the human body are: the spermatogonia and the
lymphocytes.

13. As whole-body radiation dose increases, the time of survival decreases, and each of
the three stages of acute radiation syndrome has its characteristic survival times.

14. LD50/60 = 3.5 Gyt (350 rad); SED50 = 6 Gyt (600 rad).

15. Erythrocytes (oxygen-carrying cells), lymphocytes (cells that are involved in immune
response), granulocytes (scavenger cells that fight bacteria), and thrombocytes (platelets
that clot blood to prevent hemorrhage).

16. See Figure 33-12.

17. A reduction in cell count (especially lymphocytes), increased risk of infection, and
loss of electrolytes.

18. All somatic and genetic cells form from the omnipotential cell, the fertilized egg.

19. The radiation dose-response linear relationship for single-hit cytogenetic damage is
Y = a + bD = 0.15 + 0.0094 ´ (38) = about 0.5/100. The dose 380 mGyt is replaced by its
equivalent 38 rad to be compatible with the given equation coefficients.

20. The radiation dose-response nonlinear relationship for multi-hit cytogenetic damage
is Y = a + bD + cD2 = 0.082 + 0.0094 ´ (16) + 0.0047 ´ (16)2 = about 1.4/100. The dose
160 mGyt is replaced by 16 rad to be compatible with the given equation coefficients.

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