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RE: Age determination by x-ray examinations



Sandy and Chris

In a related matter, I am aware of similar studies being conducted on female
athletes and non-athletes who are/were breastfeeding infants in order to
better predict the onset and degree of osteoporosis.  The technique is
essentially identical in that a base line (static growth)"image" is
collected followed by a series of subsequent "images" over time to determine
loss or extent of maintenance of bone.  The particular study I know of
utilized and radioactive material source.  The localized doses to the
wrists, ankles (and I believe the forearm was included as well) was less
than 5 mrem per scan as I recall and involved alot of patient consent and
oversight by at least two different research boards.

The thoughts expressed are mine, mine, all mine!
I'm with the government, I'm here to help........
Daren Perrero, Health Physicist
perrero@idns.state.il.us




-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Alston [mailto:alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu]
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 12:09 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Age determination by x-ray examinations


Sandy

There's nothing wrong with these studies.  In fact, I can't think right off 
of a study of comparable importance in which as much information is 
obtained, at the cost of such a low EDE.  Perhaps another Radsafer can 
suggest one.

Are we all aware that what's being done, typically, is a radiograph of the 
hands (including wrists), and a panoramic dental view?  The idea is to 
determine when the patient has reached physical maturity (ceased growing), 
which is defined by the fusion of the wrist bones, and the appearance of 
wisdom teeth.  Many centers do these routinely, for, e.g., children who've 
had BMT's, since they are usually small for their ages.  What methods or 
"applications" would you recommend, to get this information?

Cheers
cja

At 12:01 PM 1/7/01 -0800, you wrote:
>I am not a physician, but will provide my own personal opinions.
>
>This practice is akin to many other practices over the decades,
>whereby individuals were exposed to ionizing radiation, all in the
>name of research and for various other socio reasons. In recent
>years, many of these practices have come to the forefront in the
>media, and in the US, into the political arena. These issues, every
>time they are raised, and public attention is raised, only causes
>our profession, health and medical physicists, to be looked upon in
>disdain.
>
>My opinion is that unless there is a significant medical benefit,
>where no other procedure may be used instead of, then the use of
>ionizing radiation, be it from x-ray generating machines, or, from
>nuclear medicine procedures, should not be conducted. How
>different is age determination from the very old practice of proper
>shoe fitting, using fluroscopic machines? Were there other
>methods available? Of course. Are there other applications
>available to determine age? Of course.
>
>When are we going to learn?
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
>Sandy Perle                                     Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 
>548-5100
>Director, Technical                             Extension 2306
>ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service         Fax:(714) 668-3149
>ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.                       E-Mail:
sandyfl@earthlink.net
>ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue           E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com
>Costa Mesa, CA 92626
>
>Personal Website: http://sandyfl.nukeworker.net
>ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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