ABSTRACT
The most common type of radiation injury to patients is skin burns. All patients receiving a skin dose of 5 to 10 Gy will have erythema. Obese patients and those with long fluoroscopy times are at highest risk. The rash is located at the radiation entry portal which is usually on the back. When institutional threshold for a significant dose are reached, a follow-up process should be initiated. Patients at risk should be instructed to survey their skin at 48 to 72 hours for early signs or transient erythema. Since reactions may be delayed, surveillance for skin changes should continue for four to six weeks following prolonged radiation exposure. The Joint Commission sentinel event threshold is 15 Gy and doses above this will result in deep tissue injury. The effect of radiation exposure on cancer risk is difficult to determine, but it should be recognized that diagnostic X rays are the largest man-made source of radiation exposure and do contribute to cancer risk (68).
