FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 346:1554-1561 May 16, 2002 Number 20 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text PDF PDA Full Text Purchase this article Letters Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Uncontrolled, large-scale exposure to radiation has been caused by the detonation of atomic bombs over Japan, fallout from atomic-bomb tests, nuclear-reactor accidents, and the release of material from radiotherapy devices. In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it is important to understand the potential scenarios of major radiation exposure, the basic principles of such exposure, and how medical personnel should respond.^1,2,3,4 Management of radiation exposure is difficult, in part, because of misinformation on the part of the exposed persons, family members, and medical staff about the effects of exposure.

In some respects, major radiation exposure due to . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Possible Scenarios

Dispersal of Radioactive Substances without the Use of Explosives

Dispersal of Radioactive Substances with the Use of Conventional Explosives

Attacks on Nuclear Reactors

Detonation of Nuclear Weapons

Basic Principles

Physical Principles

Biologic Principles

Types of Radiation Exposure

Localized Exposure

Whole-Body Exposure

Internal Contamination

External Contamination

Contaminated Burns and Wounds

General Management

Early Management

Psychosocial Effects

Resources

Source Information

From the Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Mettler at the Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud, Albuquerque, NM 87131, or at fmettler@salud.unm.edu.

References

Related Letters:

Major Radiation Exposure
Forman S. J., Petz L. D., Powles R., Apperley J., van Bekkum D. W., Noteboom J. L., Goddard C. M., Turai I., Veress K., Günalp B., Souchkevitch G., Mettler F. A. Jr., Voelz G. L.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2002; 347:944-947, Sep 19, 2002. Correspondence

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Becker, S. M., Middleton, S. A. (2008). Improving Hospital Preparedness for Radiological Terrorism: Perspectives From Emergency Department Physicians and Nurses. dmphp 2: 174-184 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• KUNIAK, M, AZIZOVA, T, DAY, R, WALD, N, SUYAMA, J, ZHANG, A, SUMINA, M V, PESTERNIKOVA, V S, VASILENKO, E, SOAITA, A, SLAUGHTER, D M (2008). The Radiation Injury Severity Classification system: an early injury assessment tool for the frontline health-care provider. Br. J. Radiol. 81: 232-243 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• D'Ercole, L., Mantovani, L., Thyrion, F. Z., Bocchiola, M., Azzaretti, A., Di Maria, F., Saluzzo, C. M., Quaretti, P., Rodolico, G., Scagnelli, P., Andreucci, L. (2007). A Study on Maximum Skin Dose in Cerebral Embolization Procedures. Am. J. Neuroradiol. 28: 503-507 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Barnett, D. J., Parker, C. L., Blodgett, D. W., Wierzba, R. K., Links, J. M. (2006). Understanding Radiologic and Nuclear Terrorism as Public Health Threats: Preparedness and Response Perspectives. JNM 47: 1653-1661 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Markenson, D., Reynolds, S., Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Task, (2006). The Pediatrician and Disaster Preparedness. Pediatrics 117: e340-e362 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lee, T.-K., Johnke, R. M., Allison, R. R., O'Brien, K. F., Dobbs, L. J. Jr (2005). Radioprotective potential of ginseng. Mutagenesis 20: 237-243 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Resnick, I B, Slavin, S (2005). Lessons from bone marrow transplantation for a victim of a radiological accident with acute radiation syndrome. Br. J. Radiol. Supplement_27: 21-25 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Jackson, W L Jr, Gallagher, C, Myhand, R C, Waselenko, J K (2005). Medical management of patients with multiple organ dysfunction arising from acute radiation syndrome. Br. J. Radiol. Supplement_27: 161-168 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Waselenko, J. K., MacVittie, T. J., Blakely, W. F., Pesik, N., Wiley, A. L., Dickerson, W. E., Tsu, H., Confer, D. L., Coleman, C. N., Seed, T., Lowry, P., Armitage, J. O., Dainiak, N. (2004). Medical Management of the Acute Radiation Syndrome: Recommendations of the Strategic National Stockpile Radiation Working Group. ANN INTERN MED 140: 1037-1051 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Turai, I., Veress, K., Gunalp, B., Souchkevitch, G. (2004). Response to radiation incidents and radionuclear threats: Authors' reply. BMJ 328: 1075-1075 [Full Text]  
• Turai, I., Veress, K., Gunalp, B., Souchkevitch, G. (2004). Medical response to radiation incidents and radionuclear threats. BMJ 328: 568-572 [Full Text]  
• Schleipman, A. R., Gerbaudo, V. H., Castronovo, F. P. Jr (2004). Radiation Disaster Response: Preparation and Simulation Experience at an Academic Medical Center. J. Nucl. Med. Technol. 32: 22-27 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Committee on Environmental Health, (2003). Radiation Disasters and Children. Pediatrics 111: 1455-1466 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dainiak, N., Waselenko, J. K., Armitage, J. O., MacVittie, T. J., Farese, A. M. (2003). The Hematologist and Radiation Casualties. ASH Education Book 2003: 473-496 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Forman, S. J., Petz, L. D., Powles, R., Apperley, J., van Bekkum, D. W., Noteboom, J. L., Goddard, C. M., Turai, I., Veress, K., Gunalp, B., Souchkevitch, G., Mettler, F. A. Jr., Voelz, G. L. (2002). Major Radiation Exposure. NEJM 347: 944-947 [Full Text]  
• Bhutta, Z. A., Nundy, S. (2002). Thinking the unthinkable!. BMJ 324: 1405-1406 [Full Text]