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THE CLINICAL RADIOLOGIST AND THE PROBLEMS OF RADIATION HAZARDS FREE

Wendell G. Scott, M.D.
[+] Author Affiliations

Chairman's address, read before the Section on Radiology at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, San Francisco, June 25, 1958.


St. Louis

Professor of Clinical Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine.


JAMA. 1959;170(4):421-428. doi:10.1001/jama.1959.03010040017004
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Mankind must learn to live safely in the artificial environment that is being created by the atomic industrial revolution. That this can be done is illustrated by the fact that 38 million radiologic examinations are done annually in the United States alone; diagnostic radiology is indispensable, and if it contributes to the shortening of life span and production of genetic damage such effects have not made themselves evident. The problem is first to understand and second to minimize the effects that can arise from diagnostic radiologic examinations. During the first 30 years of life the gonadal dose should be strictly limited according to published recommendations; in the later years of life, beyond the reproductive period, the gonadal (genetic) effects are of no clinical significance. However, exposure to ionizing radiation should be minimized by methods outlined here. People should not be frightened by confusing diagnostic radiology with thermonuclear warfare and should learn that the safe use and control of medical radiation depends on properly educating its users in the underlying sciences.

REFERENCES

Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation , Summary Reports, from Study by National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, 1956;.
Laughlin, J. S., and Pullman, I.: Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation: Gonadal Dose Produced by Medical Use of X-rays: Preliminary Report by National Academy of Sciences , Washington, D. C., National Research Council, (March) , 1957;.
Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations: Report of the Medical Research Council, London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1956.
Stone, R. S.:  Common Sense in Radiation Protection Applied to Clinical Practice , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:993-999 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
Whipple, cited by Evans, T.; Peterson, R. E.; Baron, J. G.; and Kent, B. M.: Primer on Radiation Hazards for Physicians, exhibit, Iowa State Medical Society, April, 1957.
Russell, W. L.:  Radiation-Induced Genetic Damage in Mammals , read before the Mid-Western Conference on Genetics and Radiobiology, St. Louis, May 2, 1958 .
Jones, H. B.:  Factors in Longevity , Kaiser Found. M. Bull. 4:329-341 ( (Sept.) -Oct.) 1956;.
Failla, G., and McClement, P.:  Shortening of Life by Chronic Whole-Body Irradiation , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:946-954 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
Warren, S.:  Longevity and Causes of Death from Irradiation in Physicians , J. A. M. A. 162:464-468 ( (Sept. 29) ) 1956;.
Seltser, R., and Sartwell, P. E.:  Ionizing Radiation and Longevity of Physicians , J. A. M. A. 166:585-587 ( (Feb. 8) ) 1958;.
Braestrup, C. B.:  Past and Present Radiation Exposure to Radiologists from Point of View of Life Expectancy , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:988-992 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
March, H. C.:  Leukemia in Radiologists , Radiology 43:275-278 ( (Sept.) ) 1944;.
Court-Brown, W. M., and Doll, R.: Leukemia and Aplastic Anemia in Patients Treated with X-rays for Ankylosing Spondylitis, in Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations,2 Appendix B.
Simpson, C. L.; Hemplemann, L. H.; and Fuller, L. M.:  Neoplasia in Children Treated with X-rays in Infancy for Thymic Enlargement , Radiology 64:840-845 ( (June) ) 1955;.
Stewart, A.; Webb, J.; Giles, D.; and Hewitt, D.:  Malignant Disease in Childhood and Diagnostic Irradiation in Utero: Preliminary Communication , Lancet 2:447 ( (Sept. 1) ) 1956;.
Lewis, E. B.:  Leukemia and Ionizing Radiation , Science 125:965-972 ( (May 17) ) 1957;.
Kaplan, I. I.:  Thirty-Three Years' Experience in Small Dose Irradiation of 640 Women for Infertility , 7th Annual Ira I. Kaplan Lecture, Bellevue Medical Center, New York, May 8, 1958 .
Glass, B.:  Genetic Basis for Limitation of Radiation Exposure , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:955-960 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
Hodges, F. J.:  Gonadal Radiation Resulting from Various Diagnostic Radiologic Procedures , read before the Mid-Western Conference on Genetics and Radiobiology, St. Louis, May 2, 1958.

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Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation , Summary Reports, from Study by National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, 1956;.
Laughlin, J. S., and Pullman, I.: Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation: Gonadal Dose Produced by Medical Use of X-rays: Preliminary Report by National Academy of Sciences , Washington, D. C., National Research Council, (March) , 1957;.
Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations: Report of the Medical Research Council, London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1956.
Stone, R. S.:  Common Sense in Radiation Protection Applied to Clinical Practice , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:993-999 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
Whipple, cited by Evans, T.; Peterson, R. E.; Baron, J. G.; and Kent, B. M.: Primer on Radiation Hazards for Physicians, exhibit, Iowa State Medical Society, April, 1957.
Russell, W. L.:  Radiation-Induced Genetic Damage in Mammals , read before the Mid-Western Conference on Genetics and Radiobiology, St. Louis, May 2, 1958 .
Jones, H. B.:  Factors in Longevity , Kaiser Found. M. Bull. 4:329-341 ( (Sept.) -Oct.) 1956;.
Failla, G., and McClement, P.:  Shortening of Life by Chronic Whole-Body Irradiation , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:946-954 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
Warren, S.:  Longevity and Causes of Death from Irradiation in Physicians , J. A. M. A. 162:464-468 ( (Sept. 29) ) 1956;.
Seltser, R., and Sartwell, P. E.:  Ionizing Radiation and Longevity of Physicians , J. A. M. A. 166:585-587 ( (Feb. 8) ) 1958;.
Braestrup, C. B.:  Past and Present Radiation Exposure to Radiologists from Point of View of Life Expectancy , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:988-992 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
March, H. C.:  Leukemia in Radiologists , Radiology 43:275-278 ( (Sept.) ) 1944;.
Court-Brown, W. M., and Doll, R.: Leukemia and Aplastic Anemia in Patients Treated with X-rays for Ankylosing Spondylitis, in Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations,2 Appendix B.
Simpson, C. L.; Hemplemann, L. H.; and Fuller, L. M.:  Neoplasia in Children Treated with X-rays in Infancy for Thymic Enlargement , Radiology 64:840-845 ( (June) ) 1955;.
Stewart, A.; Webb, J.; Giles, D.; and Hewitt, D.:  Malignant Disease in Childhood and Diagnostic Irradiation in Utero: Preliminary Communication , Lancet 2:447 ( (Sept. 1) ) 1956;.
Lewis, E. B.:  Leukemia and Ionizing Radiation , Science 125:965-972 ( (May 17) ) 1957;.
Kaplan, I. I.:  Thirty-Three Years' Experience in Small Dose Irradiation of 640 Women for Infertility , 7th Annual Ira I. Kaplan Lecture, Bellevue Medical Center, New York, May 8, 1958 .
Glass, B.:  Genetic Basis for Limitation of Radiation Exposure , Am. J. Roentgenol. 78:955-960 ( (Dec.) ) 1957;.
Hodges, F. J.:  Gonadal Radiation Resulting from Various Diagnostic Radiologic Procedures , read before the Mid-Western Conference on Genetics and Radiobiology, St. Louis, May 2, 1958.
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