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Computed Tomography Scan Radiation Overdose: a Case Discussion of Recurrent Neurocardiogenic Syncope Underwent to 112 Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Three Years

Received: 4 April 2013    Accepted:     Published: 10 March 2013
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Abstract

A 32-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with mixed type neurocardiogenic syncope and used to have epileptic seizures 4-6 times per day, admitted to emergency rooms with headache, dizziness, syncope, and post-ictal syndromes, and was exposed to high doses of radiation will be discussed in this study together with radiation overdose. Despite her diagnosis was certain, due to inadequate uptake of the medical history and incomplete physical examination, the patient had a total of 112 computed tomography scans within the past 36 months, 80% of which were performed in emergency services. Our purpose of presenting this case is to draw attention to the fact that treating patients in emergency services without learning full medical history of patients and without completing proper physical examination may prompt more detailed investigation then required. To our knowledge of the literature, there is no other case admitted to the emer-gency rooms due to syncope and exposed to such high doses of ionizing radiation.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18
Page(s) 47-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radiation Overdose, Syncop, Computed Tomography Scan, Emergency Department

References
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[2] Heilman RS CT: time to face the facts. Radiographics, 2006: 26(4): 1133.
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[6] Lee CI, Haims AH, Monico EP, Brink JA, Forman HP. Diagnostic CT scans: assessment of patient, physician, and radiologist awareness of radiation dose and possible risks. Radiology, 2004; 231(2): 393–398.
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[9] Rice HE, Frush DP, Farmer D, Waldhausen JH; APSA Education Committee. Review of radiation risks from computed tomography: essentials for the pediatric surgeon. J Pediatr Surg. 2007; 42(4): 603-7.
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[11] Berrington de Gonzalez A, Mahesh M, Kim KP, Bhargavan M, Lewis R, Mettler F, Land C. Projected cancer risks from computed tomographic scans performed in the United States in 2007. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169(22): 2071-7.
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[13] What’s NEXT? Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends: 2000 computed tomography. (CRCPD publication no. NEXT_2000CTT.) Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Department of Health and Human Services, 2006. Mettler FA Jr, Wiest PW, Locken JA, Kelsey CA. CT.
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[16] Giles J. Study warns of ‘avoidable’ risks of CT scans. Nature 2004; 431: 391.
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[18] Smith-Bindman R, Lipson J, Marcus R, Kim KP, Mahesh, Gould R, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Miglioretti DL. Radiation dose associated with common computed tomography examinations and the associated lifetime attributable risk of cancer. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169(22): 2078-86.
[19] Berrington de Gonzalez A, Mahesh M, Kim KP, Bhargavan M, Lewis R, Mettler F, Land C. Projected cancer risks from computed tomographic scans performed in the United States in 2007. Arch Intern Med. 2009 Dec 14; 169(22): 2071-7.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Behçet Al, Suleyman Ercan, Suat Zengin, Vedat Davutoglu, Hasan Kiliç, et al. (2013). Computed Tomography Scan Radiation Overdose: a Case Discussion of Recurrent Neurocardiogenic Syncope Underwent to 112 Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Three Years. Science Journal of Public Health, 1(1), 47-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18

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    ACS Style

    Behçet Al; Suleyman Ercan; Suat Zengin; Vedat Davutoglu; Hasan Kiliç, et al. Computed Tomography Scan Radiation Overdose: a Case Discussion of Recurrent Neurocardiogenic Syncope Underwent to 112 Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Three Years. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 1(1), 47-50. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18

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    AMA Style

    Behçet Al, Suleyman Ercan, Suat Zengin, Vedat Davutoglu, Hasan Kiliç, et al. Computed Tomography Scan Radiation Overdose: a Case Discussion of Recurrent Neurocardiogenic Syncope Underwent to 112 Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Three Years. Sci J Public Health. 2013;1(1):47-50. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18,
      author = {Behçet Al and Suleyman Ercan and Suat Zengin and Vedat Davutoglu and Hasan Kiliç and Remzi Yigiter},
      title = {Computed Tomography Scan Radiation Overdose: a Case Discussion of Recurrent Neurocardiogenic Syncope Underwent to 112 Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Three Years},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {1},
      number = {1},
      pages = {47-50},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20130101.18},
      abstract = {A 32-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with mixed type neurocardiogenic syncope and used to have epileptic seizures 4-6 times per day, admitted to emergency rooms with headache, dizziness, syncope, and post-ictal syndromes, and was exposed to high doses of radiation will be discussed in this study together with radiation overdose. Despite her diagnosis was certain, due to inadequate uptake of the medical history and incomplete physical examination, the patient had a total of 112 computed tomography scans within the past 36 months, 80% of which were performed in emergency services. Our purpose of presenting this case is to draw attention to the fact that treating patients in emergency services without learning full medical history of patients and without completing proper physical examination may prompt more detailed investigation then required. To our knowledge of the literature, there is no other case admitted to the emer-gency rooms due to syncope and exposed to such high doses of ionizing radiation.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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    T1  - Computed Tomography Scan Radiation Overdose: a Case Discussion of Recurrent Neurocardiogenic Syncope Underwent to 112 Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Three Years
    AU  - Behçet Al
    AU  - Suleyman Ercan
    AU  - Suat Zengin
    AU  - Vedat Davutoglu
    AU  - Hasan Kiliç
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    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
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    EP  - 50
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20130101.18
    AB  - A 32-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with mixed type neurocardiogenic syncope and used to have epileptic seizures 4-6 times per day, admitted to emergency rooms with headache, dizziness, syncope, and post-ictal syndromes, and was exposed to high doses of radiation will be discussed in this study together with radiation overdose. Despite her diagnosis was certain, due to inadequate uptake of the medical history and incomplete physical examination, the patient had a total of 112 computed tomography scans within the past 36 months, 80% of which were performed in emergency services. Our purpose of presenting this case is to draw attention to the fact that treating patients in emergency services without learning full medical history of patients and without completing proper physical examination may prompt more detailed investigation then required. To our knowledge of the literature, there is no other case admitted to the emer-gency rooms due to syncope and exposed to such high doses of ionizing radiation.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Cardiology Department of Medicine School in Gaziantep üniversitesi, Turkey

  • Emergency Department of Medicine School in Gaziantep üniversitesi, Turkey

  • Cardiology Department of Medicine School in Gaziantep üniversitesi, Turkey

  • Neurology Department of Gaziantep Avukat Cengiz State Hospital, Turkey

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