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Review
. 2014 Dec 31;2014(4):437-48.
doi: 10.5339/gcsp.2014.57. eCollection 2014.

Radiation in medicine: Origins, risks and aspirations

Mohamed Donya  1 , Mark Radford  2 , Ahmed ElGuindy  1 , David Firmin  3 , Magdi H Yacoub  2
Affiliations
Review

Radiation in medicine: Origins, risks and aspirations

Mohamed Donya et al. Glob Cardiol Sci Pract. .

Abstract

The use of radiation in medicine is now pervasive and routine. From their crude beginnings 100 years ago, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy have all evolved into advanced techniques, and are regarded as essential tools across all branches and specialties of medicine. The inherent properties of ionizing radiation provide many benefits, but can also cause potential harm. Its use within medical practice thus involves an informed judgment regarding the risk/benefit ratio. This judgment requires not only medical knowledge, but also an understanding of radiation itself. This work provides a global perspective on radiation risks, exposure and mitigation strategies.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Comparison of wave-length and frequency for the electromagnetic spectrum.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Wilhelm Roentgen (the first person to discover the potential for using electromagnetic radiation to create X-ray images) (right). The X-ray of his wife's hand with a wedding ring, first ever captured X-ray on a photographic plate (1895) (left).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Comparison of the penetrating power of the three types of radiation (Alpha, Beta, and Gamma).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The major types of ionizing radiation emitted during radioactive decay.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Alpha particle decay.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Beta decay of a Thorium 234 nucleus.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Gamma decay.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Chart illustrating the sources of radiation exposure in the United States (NCRP 2009).
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
A single slice of a 3D MRI stack of a right coronary artery through plane (left) and in plane (right).
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
The myocardial fiber helical angle maps from a mid ventricular short axis slice of a diffusion tensor MR imaging is illustrated using a color scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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