Diagnostic Imaging
CELLULAR RESPONSE TO IONIZING RADIATION
The efficacy of diagnostic imaging resembles a double-edged sword in the medical industry. A radiographer trained to image a patient correctly must use all knowledge to keep the radiation level at its lowest and safest level to produce the best quality image possible. However, the radiation level still has an effect on the patient that can go unseen by the naked eye. Ionizing radiation produced by x-ray, gamma rays, alpha & beta rays, can have an effect on cellular structure and its reproduction process, as well as its DNA, the coding system to cellular life. The amount of damage can depend upon the type of ionizing radiation, its energy and the total amount of radiation absorbed by radiosensitive cells. …show more content…
The damage of irradiated DNA presents itself in breaks of the double strands holding it together. Most single-strand breaks can repair themselves normally because the two strands complement one other. One strand can serve as a roadmap for repair of the damaged strand. In the case of double-strand breaks, however, repair is more difficult and can lead to incorrect alignment that result in the induction of mutations, chromosome aberrations, or cell death. http://www.cityu.edu.hk/ap/nru/BookAGRhapter7.pdf
One factor to consider though with ionizing radiation and cells, is the radiosensitivity of the type of cell irradiated. Characteristics of radiosensitive cells are being well-nourished, non-specialized, and active in the division process. Examples of these types of cells are blood forming cells, intestinal lining, hair follicles, embryos and fetuses. Other cells such as one forming the brain, muscles, and nervous system divide less frequently and are more specialized, thus making them insensitive to ionizing radiation. (NEED A
The efficacy of diagnostic imaging resembles a double-edged sword in the medical industry. A radiographer trained to image a patient correctly must use all knowledge to keep the radiation level at its lowest and safest level to produce the best quality image possible. However, the radiation level still has an effect on the patient that can go unseen by the naked eye. Ionizing radiation produced by x-ray, gamma rays, alpha & beta rays, can have an effect on cellular structure and its reproduction process, as well as its DNA, the coding system to cellular life. The amount of damage can depend upon the type of ionizing radiation, its energy and the total amount of radiation absorbed by radiosensitive cells. …show more content…
The damage of irradiated DNA presents itself in breaks of the double strands holding it together. Most single-strand breaks can repair themselves normally because the two strands complement one other. One strand can serve as a roadmap for repair of the damaged strand. In the case of double-strand breaks, however, repair is more difficult and can lead to incorrect alignment that result in the induction of mutations, chromosome aberrations, or cell death. http://www.cityu.edu.hk/ap/nru/BookAGRhapter7.pdf
One factor to consider though with ionizing radiation and cells, is the radiosensitivity of the type of cell irradiated. Characteristics of radiosensitive cells are being well-nourished, non-specialized, and active in the division process. Examples of these types of cells are blood forming cells, intestinal lining, hair follicles, embryos and fetuses. Other cells such as one forming the brain, muscles, and nervous system divide less frequently and are more specialized, thus making them insensitive to ionizing radiation. (NEED A