title: Primary DNA damage assessed with the comet assay and comparison to the absorbed dose of diagnostic X-rays in children.
abstract: The aim of this work is to assess DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of children prior to and following airway X-ray examinations of the chest using the alkaline comet assay and to compare data with the measured absorbed dose. Twenty children with pulmonary diseases, between the ages of 5 and 14 years, are assessed. Absorbed dose measurements are conducted for posterior-anterior projection on the forehead, thyroid gland, gonads, chest, and back. Doses are measured using thermoluminescent and radiophotoluminescent dosimetry systems. Differences between tail lengths, tail intensity, and tail moments as well as for the long-tailed nuclei before and after exposures are statistically significant and are dependent on the individual. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the comet assay as a measure of X-ray damage to lymphocytes in a clinical setting. Doses measured with both dosimeters show satisfactory agreement (0.01 mSv) and are suitable for dosimetric measurements in X-ray diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Srebrnjak, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Durdica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milkovic
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garaj-Vrhovac
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranogajec-Komor
authors.forename: Saveta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miljanic
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gajski
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Knezevic
authors.forename: Natko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006066:Gonads / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography; D011874:Radiometry; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000528:radiation effects