This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reitan, J B Articles by Beiske, K Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reitan, J B Articles by Beiske, K

Multi-organ failure aspects of a fatal radiation accident in Norway in 1982

¹ Department of Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, ² Section of Haematology, Medical Department, The National Hospital, Oslo and ³ Department of Pathology, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway

A fatal radiation accident with a 2.43 PBq (65 kCi) ⁶⁰Co radiation source occurred in Norway in 1982. The patient was estimated to have received an inhomogeneous whole body dose of approximately 10–30 Gy and he died on day 13 after the accident. The clinical features in general were consistent with a haematological syndrome variant of the acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Gastrointestinal symptoms were modest compared with the estimated dose. More recent insights cast doubt about the classical descriptions and interpretation of ARS, which show many similarities to the multi-organ failure (MOF) of otherwise severely traumatised patients. This report discusses the features of ARS in this case in relation to commonly accepted features of MOF, based on clinical and autopsy data.