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Orofacial manifestations from accidental exposure to caesium 137 in Goiania, Brazil
Author(s) -
Gomes Maria A. M.,
Wascheck Carla deC.,
Scully Crispian,
Almeida Oslei deP.,
Bozzo Lourenco
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1990.tb00853.x
Subject(s) - medicine , accidental , purpura (gastropod) , dermatology , surgery , ecology , physics , acoustics , biology
The accidental close exposure of over 200 adults and children to a caesium‐137 ( 137 Cs) source in Goiania, Brazil in 1987 produced significant short‐term morbidity in about 50 patients, and four deaths within a few weeks. Some 57% of those maximally exposed to radiation, developed orofacial lesions, notably purpura, spontaneous bleeding, ulcers and/or acute candidiasis. These lesions were probably mainly the consequences of depression of bone marrow elements by the radionuclide. Though the oral lesions that may follow iatrogenic exposure to ionizing radiation are well recognized this appears to be the first report on the oral sequelae of a serious radiation accident.