Radiological findings of accidental radiation injury of the fingers: a case report.

This case report describes the medical follow-up of a 46-y-old (at the time of exposure) man who in 1971 accidentally exposed the fingers of his right hand to gamma-ray radiation from an iridium source that was used for nondestructive testing [estimated radiation dose: 26 Gy to 90 Gy (2,600 rad to 9,000 rad)]. No prominent acute injury was detected except for leukocytopenia (800 mm(-3)) and thrombocytopenia (15,000 mm(-3)). Three years later, the first, second, and third fingers presented repeated infection and started to develop contracture. Twenty-two years after exposure, he underwent amputation of the first and second fingers, and a toe graft was done. Radiological examinations prior to and following the operation revealed atrophic change of the finger bones and arterial injuries. Angiographic findings coincided with the region and extent of radiation injury of the fingers, which indicates that arterial damage is involved in the development of this chronic disorder.