Occupational Radiodermatitis: an Accidental Overexposure to Ir192 Gamma Rays
摘要
An industrial radiographer was accidentally exposed to a high dose of ionizing radiation from an Ir192 source during radiography of weldjoints in oil pipelines. Skin erythema, swelling, ulceration developed within 3 days, leading to progressive tissue deterioration. The dose to the whole body was estimated to be about 2-4 Gy, and the dose to the fingertips was approximately 52 Gy. He visited a medical practitioner who approached conservatively including local skin care with dressings. The wounds of the fingers still deteriorated progressively. Surgical amputation of the second and third fingers of right hand was performed after 18 months. The secnd and third fingers of left hand reached the same destination 6 months after the amputation of the contralateral side. The hand of the patient appears with xerosis, telangiectases, hyperpigmentation, atrophy, and bone exposure, especially the right thumb. After amputations, the patient applied S.O.D. on the fingers twice a day for 6 months. We found that there were increase in the number and the velocity, but decrease in the tortuosity of the capillaries on nail folds. The skin perfusion by laser Doppler flowmetry tended to normal level. Clinically, the pain sensation and the skin lesions improved.