New article published: V. 13 n. 2 (2025)

Tissue Reactions (Deterministic Effects) in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology: An Integrative Review of Recent Literature

Abstract: Ninety-eight percent of the global average individual dose delivered by artificial sources of ionizing radiation results from their use in medical applications, especially for diagnostic and interventional purposes. Although the benefits of radiation in medicine are widely recognized, exposure to this agent can cause harmful effects on the health of exposed individuals. Radiation applications for diagnostic purposes are generally associated with low doses, but interventional procedures may involve much higher doses. In the 2000s and 2010s, several publications described tissue reactions in patients and professionals exposed during interventional radiological procedures. This work aimed to review the literature on the most recent reports (last decade) on the occurrence of tissue reactions after diagnostic or interventional radiological procedures. The PubMed search tool was used to search and select publications on the topic. Although 826 articles were initially selected, only 5 presented relevant content for this review. The low number of articles in the final selection may be a result of the methodology we used or an actual reduction in the number of individuals presenting these effects in more recent years, due to the growing concerns about radiological protection in these practices. Among the articles analyzed, there were reports of skin lesions, as well as thinning or hair loss in patients exposed to doses (cumulative air kerma at the reference point) above 3.5 Gy. However, these reactions are rare and do not appear in most patients, even among those who received higher doses. An increased frequency of lens opacities (cataracts) has also been reported in occupationally exposed professionals. An adequate assessment of the occurrence of these effects is essential to try to understand their causes and minimize the frequency or consequences of their occurrence. Carrying out research like this can help with this task. Read full article.