Combined effects of temperature changes and radiation absorption on living tissue

The need for the development of criteria for the referral of patients for radiographic examinations, especially in the face of the results of separate studies on temperature and radiation effects, formed the background to this study. The aim of this study is to determine the possible consequences of low dose radiation to living tissue in the presence of elevated temperatures, with a view to developing referral criteria for patients scheduled for radiodiagnostic examinations.

A two part procedure in the form of x-irradiation of water phantom at temperatures ranging from 25 and 45 degrees Celsius, to assess absorbed dose with temperature variation, as well as histological study of living tissue extracted from the skin and lungs of experimental animals, exposed to x-radiation at kilovoltage range between 50 and 90 and temperature values between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius.

Results showed increased radiation absorption with rising temperature in the studied samples suggesting that radiation absorption and therefore effects, may be functions of the temperature of the absorbing medium, being more pronounced at higher temperatures, even at constant exposure.

A combination of elevated temperatures and x-radiation, even at diagnostic exposures doses, may not be safe for patients, especially in paediatric radiography patients presenting with body temperatures in the neighborhood of 40 degrees Celsius. The application of this as a radiation protection measure in the use of ionizing radiation is recommended, especially where highly dividing tissue is involved.