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Open Access 01-12-2011 | Review

Acute radiation syndrome caused by accidental radiation exposure - therapeutic principles

Authors: Harald Dörr, Viktor Meineke

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

Fortunately radiation accidents are infrequent occurrences, but since they have the potential of large scale events like the nuclear accidents of Chernobyl and Fukushima, preparatory planning of the medical management of radiation accident victims is very important. Radiation accidents can result in different types of radiation exposure for which the diagnostic and therapeutic measures, as well as the outcomes, differ. The clinical course of acute radiation syndrome depends on the absorbed radiation dose and its distribution. Multi-organ-involvement and multi-organ-failure need be taken into account. The most vulnerable organ system to radiation exposure is the hematopoietic system. In addition to hematopoietic syndrome, radiation induced damage to the skin plays an important role in diagnostics and the treatment of radiation accident victims. The most important therapeutic principles with special reference to hematopoietic syndrome and cutaneous radiation syndrome are reviewed.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/9/126/prepub

Title: Acute radiation syndrome caused by accidental radiation exposure - therapeutic principles
Authors: Harald Dörr
Viktor Meineke
Publication date: 01-12-2011
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-9-126

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Acute radiation syndrome caused by accidental radiation exposure - therapeutic principles

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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