Radiation Exposure Injuries

The tables below show the symptoms that manifest with localized cutaneous radiation injury, acute radiation syndrome, and lethal doses of radiation according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^{[1, 2]}

Table 1. Clinical Symptoms of Localized Cutaneous Radiation Injury (Open Table in a new window)

Localized Cutaneous Injury	Clinical Symptoms
3 Gy	Hair loss
6 Gy	Burns
10-15 Gy	Dry desquamation
20-50 Gy	Wet desquamation
50 Gy	Cutaneous necrosis and ulceration

Table 2. Clinical Symptoms of Acute Radiation Syndrome (Open Table in a new window)

Acute Radiation Syndrome	Clinical Symptoms
>0.7 Gy	Hematopoietic syndrome - anemia, neutropenia
>10 Gy	Gastrointestinal syndrome - nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, anorexia, bloody diarrhea
>20 Gy	Cerebrovascular syndrome - cerebral edema, ataxia, hypotension, convulsions

Table 3. Clinical Symptoms of Whole Body Lethal Doses of Radiation (Open Table in a new window)

Lethal Doses	Clinical Symptoms
3.5 Gy	Lethal without treatment at 60 days
>7 Gy	Lethal with treatment at 60 days
>100 Gy	Lethal within hours

In March 2015, filgrastim (Neupogen) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation (suspected or confirmed exposure to radiation >2 Gy).^{[3, 4, 5]}

A June 2015 update on radiation-related injuries and their management was published by Wunderle and Gill.^[6]

See the image below.