title: Nasopharyngeal radium irradiation: The lessons of history.
abstract: In the Netherlands, nasopharyngeal radium irradiation was started in 1945. The indications included refractory symptoms of otitis media with effusion and other adenoid-related disorders after adenoidectomy. It was considered a safe and effective therapy. Its use decreased sharply in 1958, following a worldwide media avalanche around the dramatic events in the treatment of a 5-year-old child in Utrecht, enhancing the widespread fear of radioactivity. This case history illustrates the powerful role of the media in medical decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Eversweg 7, 6523 LT Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: k.graamans@chello.nl.
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graamans
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009426:Netherlands; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000266:history* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000266:history*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D011883:Radium / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D011883:Radium
keywords: Adenoid; Eustachian tube; Nasopharyngeal irradiation; Otitis media with effusion; Radioactivity; Radium