title: Emergency department management of patients internally contaminated with radioactive material.
abstract: After a radiation emergency that involves the dispersal of radioactive material, patients can become externally and internally contaminated with 1 or more radionuclides. Internal contamination can lead to the delivery of harmful ionizing radiation doses to various organs and tissues or the whole body. The clinical consequences can range from acute radiation syndrome to the long-term development of cancer. Estimating the amount of radioactive material absorbed into the body can guide the management of patients. Treatment includes, in addition to supportive care and long term monitoring, certain medical countermeasures like Prussian blue, calcium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and zinc DTPA.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Northeast, MS-F59, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, 531 Asbury Cir-Annex, Suite N-340, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: ZKAZZI@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kazzi
authors.affiliation: National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Northeast, MS-F59, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buzzell
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mailstop G761, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.affiliation: Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site, PO Box 117, Oak Ridge TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Doran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004190:Disasters; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents
keywords: Chelation therapy; Contamination; Radiation dosage; Radioactive elements; Radioactive terrorism