A case of chronic myeloid leukemia in a diagnostic radiographer

BACKGROUND: Occupational radiation exposure causes certain types of cancer, specifically hematopoietic diseases like leukemia. In Korea, radiation exposure is monitored and recorded by law, and guidelines for compensation of radiation-related diseases were implemented in 2001. However, thus far, no occupation-related disease was approved for compensation under these guidelines. Here, we report the first case of radiation-related disease approved by the compensation committee of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, based on the probability of causation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old man complained of chronic fatigue and myalgia for several days. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient was a diagnostic radiographer at a diagnostic radiation department and was exposed to ionizing radiation for 21 years before chronic myeloid leukemia was diagnosed. His job involved taking simple radiographs, computed tomography scans, and measuring bone marrow density. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first approved case report using quantitative assessment of radiation. More approved cases are expected based on objective radiation exposure data and the probability of causation. We need to find a resolution to the ongoing demands for appropriate compensation and improvements to the environment at radiation workplaces.

Radiation safety management for diagnostic radiation generators and employees in animal hospitals in Korea / 대한수의학회지

A nationwide survey on radiation safety management in Korean animal hospitals was conducted. By 2013, 53 radiation generators were registered as veterinary medical devices (41 X-ray generators and 12 computed tomography scanners). Additionally there were six approved laboratories for radiation equipment and protection facility, and five approved laboratories for radiation exposure of employees, respectively. By March 2013, 2,030 out of 3,829 animal hospitals operated radiation-generating devices. Among these devices, 389 (19.2%) out of 2,030 were not labeled with the model name and 746 (36.7%) were not labeled with production dates. Thus, most veterinary X-ray generators were outdated (42.6%) and needed replacements. When periodic inspections of 2,018 animal hospitals were performed after revision of the Veterinarians Act in 2011, the hospitals were found to be equipped with appropriate radiation generators and protection facilities. Among 2,545 employees exposed to radiation at the hospitals, 93.9% were veterinarians, 4.3% were animal nurse technicians, and 18% held other positions. Among 169 employees supervised by administrators, none of those had a weekly maximum operating load that exceeded 10 mA.min. This study suggests that the radiation safety management system of animal hospitals was general good.

Radiation safety management for diagnostic radiation generators and employees in animal hospitals in Korea / 대한수의학회지

A nationwide survey on radiation safety management in Korean animal hospitals was conducted. By 2013, 53 radiation generators were registered as veterinary medical devices (41 X-ray generators and 12 computed tomography scanners). Additionally there were six approved laboratories for radiation equipment and protection facility, and five approved laboratories for radiation exposure of employees, respectively. By March 2013, 2,030 out of 3,829 animal hospitals operated radiation-generating devices. Among these devices, 389 (19.2%) out of 2,030 were not labeled with the model name and 746 (36.7%) were not labeled with production dates. Thus, most veterinary X-ray generators were outdated (42.6%) and needed replacements. When periodic inspections of 2,018 animal hospitals were performed after revision of the Veterinarians Act in 2011, the hospitals were found to be equipped with appropriate radiation generators and protection facilities. Among 2,545 employees exposed to radiation at the hospitals, 93.9% were veterinarians, 4.3% were animal nurse technicians, and 18% held other positions. Among 169 employees supervised by administrators, none of those had a weekly maximum operating load that exceeded 10 mA.min. This study suggests that the radiation safety management system of animal hospitals was general good.

Exposure to Diagnostic Radiation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single Center Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Western studies recently reported that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are exposed to diagnostic radiation at potentially harmful levels. There is little research, however, on exposure to diagnostic radiation in patients with IBD in Asian areas. The present study assessed cumulative radiation exposure dose in patients with IBD who were treated at a single-tertiary medical center in Korea and analyzed the factors that increased the exposure dose. METHODS: Retrospective investigation was performed of the medical records of the patients who were followed up for 1 year or more in a period from January 2003 through November 2011 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. RESULTS: Included in the study were 202 patients with IBD: 80 (39.6%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 122 (60.4%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). The mean follow-up period was 4.2+/-2.5 years for CD and 4.3+/-1.4 years for UC. The mean culmulative effective dose (CED) for CD and UC were 39.7 and 11.0 mSv respectively (P<0.001). In CD, factors associated with increased CED were surgery, history of intravenous steroid treatment, and structuring or penetrating disease. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of IBD patients, especially CD patients, were exposed to significantly harmful amounts of diagnostic radiation, mainly due to computed tomography examination. Efforts should be made to reduced diagnostic medical radiation, especially in patients at risk for increased radiation exposure.