Chronic Radiation Syndrome

by Alexander V. Akleyev

Overview

This book covers all aspects of chronic radiation syndrome (CRS) based on observations in a unique sample of residents of the Techa riverside villages in the southern Urals who were exposed to radioactive contamination in the 1950s owing to releases of liquid radioactive wastes. The opening chapters discuss the definition and classification of CRS, its epidemiology and pathogenesis and the pathoanatomy of CRS during the development and recovery stages. Clinical manifestations of CRS at the different stages are then described in detail and the dynamics of hematopoietic changes are thoroughly examined. In the following chapters, principles of diagnosis and differential diagnosis are discussed and current and potential treatment options, described. The medical and social rehabilitation of persons with CRS is also covered. This book, which casts new light on the condition, will be of value for all practitioners and researchers with an interest in CRS.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783662524176
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	08/23/2016
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2014
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Definition, classification and clinical presentation of Chronic Radiation Syndrome (CRS) associated with total exposure to external gamma-radiation.- Epidemiology of Chronic Radiation Syndrome.- Mechanisms involved in Chronic Radiation exposure effects. Pathogenesis of Chronic Radiation Syndrome.- Pathoanatomy of Chronic Radiation Syndrome during the period of its development and at recovery stage.- Clinical manifestations of Chronic Radiation Syndrome.- Health status in CRS patients during the period of late effects development.- Dynamics of hematopoietic changes in CRS patients.- Diagnosis of Chronic Radiation Syndrome.- Differential diagnosis of Chronic Radiation Syndrome.- Treatment of patients with Chronic Radiation Syndrome.- Rehabilitation and expert evaluation of health status for persons with Chronic Radiation Syndrome.

Editorial Reviews

From the book reviews:

“The purpose is to provide a comprehensive review of CRS. … The book is aimed at researchers in radiobiology, radiation medicine, and radiation safety, as well as physicians and biologists. … In case of any future incidents of chronic radiation exposure, the book will be useful to caregivers in identifying and responding to CRS in the exposed population groups.” (Mohan Doss, Doody’s Book Reviews, January, 2015)

“The text is supplemented by various Figures and Tables, and each chapter has a reference list of primary publications. … the present volume from the publisher Springer can be taken to represent a fairly current comprehensive account of CRS in the Techa riverside population cohort, which should be useful to all radiation health professionals concerned with the effects of increasing doses of protracted radiations.” (Jolyon Hendry, Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, Vol. 53, 2014)

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Mohan Doss, PhD, MCCPM (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Description: This book covers all aspects of chronic radiation syndrome (CRS), a pattern of symptoms that develop following chronic radiation exposures exceeding a threshold dose, as inferred from studies of the residents of the Techa riverside villages who were exposed to radiation due to releases of radioactive wastes from Mayak Production Association which produced plutonium for nuclear weapons. This is a translation of the original work published in Russian in 2012.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a comprehensive review of CRS. Though CRS had been reported in Russian literature in the 1950s, it is not well known in the international community. In 2007, Publication 103 of ICRP recognized the possibility of CRS following chronic radiation exposure.
Audience: The book is aimed at researchers in radiobiology, radiation medicine, and radiation safety, as well as physicians and biologists. The current radiation safety regulations and practices should prevent high chronic radiation exposures (and CRS) from occurring during routine operations. However, if such exposures were to occur, the book would be a very useful resource in coping with CRS.
Features: The book covers all aspects of CRS based on observations in residents of Techa riverside villages. The first two chapters provide a definition and classification of CRS and its epidemiology. The third chapter discusses the relevant mechanisms, including molecular and cellular response to radiation, radioadaptation, and tissue reactions. Chapter 4 describes the effect of chronic radiation on different organ systems. Chapter 5 discusses clinical manifestation of CRS and chapter 6 describes the dynamics of hematopoietic changes in persons with CRS. Chapters 7 and 8 discuss the basic principles for diagnosis and treatment of CRS. Chapter 9 summarizes the current state of knowledge of CRS. The various case reports in the book present vivid descriptions of the impact of chronic radiation exposure on actual patients.
Assessment: CRS was first diagnosed following the expeditionary examinations in the Techa riverside villages in the 1950s. These diagnoses were prone to large errors since many residents had diseases whose symptoms resembled the clinical manifestation of CRS. A verification process was initiated during 1959-1964 to take such reasons into consideration, resulting in identification of 940 patients as having CRS. A second verification conducted during 1980-1984 showed that even among these cases, there was considerable misdiagnosis of CRS and only 66 cases of CRS could be validated beyond doubt. In view of this, the graphs, tables, and discussions in the book that used the larger cohort should be used with caution. The main contribution of this book to the field of CRS is the documentation of the criteria for reliable diagnosis of CRS: (i) the presence of clinical signs following exposure to chronic radiation exceeding the threshold dose and following a suitable latency period, (ii) exclusion of nonradiation factors for the clinical symptoms, (iii) differential diagnosis from other diseases and conditions with similar clinical manifestation, and (iv) long-term follow-up to trace the dynamics of pathological changes depending on change of dose rates. In case of any future incidents of chronic radiation exposure, the book will be useful to caregivers in identifying and responding to CRS in the exposed population groups.

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