Examination for Nursing in NU15IC06/ Radiation in medical use

David McCrea, 1700220

1. X-rays are non-ionizing radiation YES ​NO

2. Dosimeter is an equipment for measuring radiation YES​ NO
3. Finns have a annual dose of 4,3 mSv YES ​NO
4. The red bone marrow is one of the most sensitive to radiation YES​ NO
5. Mobile C-arms is used for example at operations YES​ NO
6. X-rays is the same kind of radiation as alpha radiation YES ​NO
7. Finns get most radiation from space and the sun? YES ​NO
8. An x-ray of skeleton gives a bigger radiation dose than
a nuclear medicine examination YES ​NO ?
9. Radiotherapy is given for curative YES​ NO
10. Radiation sensitivity is individual YES​ NO
11. Absorbed dose is expressed with the unit Gy (gray) YES​ NO
12. Older people are most sensitive to radiation YES ​NO
13. Effective dose is a biological dose in radioprotection. It takes
into consideration the sensitivities of the body parts affected YES​ NO
14. Radiotherapy/treatment is given both in curative and
palliative purpose YES​ NO

15. What atoms in our body reacts in MRI and make images of the body possible?

Water molecules. An MRI machine first excites water molecules into releasing waves, and then records
the locations of those waves.

16. What is the unit of effective dose?

The SI unit for effective dose is the sievert (Sv)

17. What is the different between deterministic and stochastic effect of radiation?

In deterministic effects, below are certain threshold the effect does not occur. The threshold may vary
from one person to another. Once the threshold has been exceeded, the severity of an effect increases
with dose. For example hair loss at 2-5 Gy. Stochastic effects on the hand occur by chance.

18. What is the main difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation?

Non-ionizing radiation does not carry enough energy to break molecular bonds, whereas ionizing
radiation is capable of doing this. Therefore, ionizing radiation is more harmful.
 19. Name four possible contraindications for iodine contrast media

- Severe renal impairment

- Active, untreated thyrotoxicosis
- Active myasthenia gravis
- Asthma

20. A referral is needed for x-ray examination. What kind of information is important and
should be written/told in the referral?

- Patient information
- Interpreter required
- Pregnancy status
- If yes, gestation in weeks
- Routine or urgent
- Examination requested
- Referring clinician information
- Relevant clinical information
- Question to be answered

21. Tell three (3) differences between CT and MRI?

- CT uses X-rays, MRI uses magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses
- Differences between normal and abnormal tissue is often clearer on an MRI image than a CT
- MRI scan can be noisy and takes longer than a CT

22. Name four (4) contraindications for an MRI investigation

- Foreign metal bodies. If in doubt, an x-ray should be taken first.

- Coronary and peripheral artery stents
- Aortic stent grafts
- Cardiac pacemakers and ICDs (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator)

23. Describe an simple coronary angiography investigation procedure

A catheter is inserted into an artery and threaded through to the aorta. A contrast medium is injected
through the catheter into the artery, making the coronary arteries visible on X-ray. A series of X-ray
pictures is recorded. If the angiography shows one or more blockages in the arteries, then angioplasty is
carried out.

24. Name two contraindications for angiography

- Significant previous allergic reactions to iodinated contrast medium injection

- Renal impairment or dehydration
 25. What does biological half-life mean, used in nuclear medicine?

Half-life in radiation physics is the length of time required for half of a radioactive substance to be
biologically eliminated from the body.

26. Why is it so important to inform the patient about radiation after they have gone
through a nuclear medicine treatment?

Through the natural process of radioactive decay, the small amount of radiotracer in the patient’s body
will lose its radioactivity over time. It may also pass out of the body through urine or stool during the
first few hours or days following the test. The patient should be informed to drink plenty of water to
help flush the radioactive material from the body.

27. Tell about the radiotherapy/ treatment process.

Radiation therapy is the treatment of cancer with radiation. External beam radiotherapy directs high
energy waves similar to x-rays at cancer cells to destroy them, from outside of the body. This is different
to internal radiotherapy which means giving radiotherapy to the cancer from inside the body. The
therapy is given using a linear accelerator machine or a superficial x-ray unit. The full dose of radiation is
not given it at once but is instead divided up into a number of smaller doses - this allows the healthy
cells to recover between treatments.

28. What does this signs (below) mean? (​https://www.stuklex.fi/en/ohje/ST1-3​)

The first sign is a warning sign for non-ionising radiation. The second is a sign for a strong magnetic field.
The third row shows things which a prohibited from the MRI vicinity including a) cardiac pacemakers, b)
metal implants, and c) no metal objects or watches.

29. To be considered acceptable, the use of radiation and practices involving exposure to radiation
shall meet three criteria. What are they? (radiation act 1991/592
https://www.stuklex.fi/en/ls/19910592/P2​)
1. The benefits should outweigh the negatives (principle of justification)
2. The radiation should be kept as low as is possible (principle of optimization)
3. No person should be exposed to the maximum values (principle of limitation)

30. How is radiation work defined? (radiation act 1991/592)

Radiation work refers to “a task involving the use of radiation or nuclear energy, in which the worker
may be exposed to radiation to such a degree that monitoring of radiation exposure must be arranged
at the workplace”.

31. Who have the qualification to perform an x-ray imaging independently or with training,
supervision and responsibility of physician? ( ​https://www.stuklex.fi/en/ls/20000423​)

A radiographer may independently perform an X-ray imaging according to a referral. Under the
supervision of a physician responsible for procedure other professional health care staff may assist in
the use of X-ray equipment for the use of which they have been properly trained.

32. What is said about assessing the possibility of pregnancy, protection of the foetus and
protection during breastfeeding according to Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
on the medical use of radiation 10.5.2000/423 ( ​https://www.stuklex.fi/en/ls/20000423​)

- A woman shall be treated as though pregnant when the possibility of pregnancy is unclear.
- Special attention shall be paid to the risk of the foetus sustaining radiation damage. Options will
be explored such as waiting until after the birth, using an alternative imaging technique, or using
as low a dose as possible.