[Oradlist] MEDHP-SEC: New edition of Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation (fwd)

[Gibbs, S Julian]

I have not seen this book but I know both authors and am familiar 
with their earlier edition--which was excellent--and I'm confident 
this one wil be also.

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 10:59 AM -0400
From: dauerl at MSKCC.ORG
To: medhp-sec at hps1.org
Subject: MEDHP-SEC: New edition of Medical Effects of Ionizing 
Radiation


FYI - New edition of Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation is out.
Book Review Article listed below:

Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation

Edited by F. A. Mettler and A. C. Upton
3rd ed, 564 pp, $198.20
Philadelphia, PA, Saunders Elsevier, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-7216-0200-4


JAMA. 2008;300(1):102-103.

Fred Mettler and Arthur Upton, both recognized experts in radiation
effects, present a panoramic picture in the Medical Effects of
Ionizing Radiation. This 2008 edition is a major rewrite of the
1995 edition, with numerous added references, 134 pages of
additional text, and revision or expansion of each of the 12
chapters. The text is well written, concise, heavily referenced,
and clear. Although the authors assume the reader has a working
knowledge of radiobiology, the text will also be of interest to
nonmedical personnel.

The first 4 chapters present basic radiation physics, chemistry,
and biology; sources of exposure; effects on genetic material;
cancer induction; and dose-response models. To put many of the
current concepts in context, historical information on the
evolution of various radiation measurements has been retained.
Chapter 2, "Sources of Radiation Exposure," presents the latest
information on both background and man-made radiation. In the
section on sources and effects of terrestrial and cosmic background
exposure, the authors provide detailed information on radiation
exposure from burning fossil fuels, use of phosphate fertilizers,
incorporation of substances with significant natural radiation into
building materials, the use of radioactive agents in consumer
products, and exposure to the population from nuclear power
production. This information is complemented by data on exposure
from medical procedures.

The next 5 chapters present information on carcinogenesis at
specific sites; deterministic effects of radiation; effects of
radiation in combination with other agents; radiation exposure in
utero; and uranium, plutonium, and radium as sources of radiation.
The last 3 chapters are of interest to both medical professionals
and lay readers. Chapters on attribution of radiation effects and
probability of causation in a specific individual may be of
particular use to lawyers and human resource professionals;
perception of radiation and psychological effects may be
exceptionally helpful to individuals dealing with the media (see
below); and a concluding chapter on hormesis presents the concept
that exposure to radiation may promote health.

Although each chapter is informative, chapter 5, "Carcinogenesis of
Specific Sites," and chapter 11, "Perception of Radiation and
Psychological Effects," stand out. Chapter 5 has been increased
from 100 pages and 514 references in the second edition to 167
pages and 827 references in the current edition. For each area, the
authors present a general discussion, followed by a description of
modifying factors, effects of external exposure (primarily data
obtained from the survivors of atomic explosion), influence of
natural background (by comparison of populations living in high-
and low-background environments), internal exposure, occupational
exposure, and effects of radiation therapy. The authors follow this
approach with each of the disease categories summarized in the Box.


Box. Disease Categories Evaluated for Ionizing Radiation Effects


Leukemia
 Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
 Multiple myeloma
 Aplastic anemia and polycythemia
 Brain and central nervous system tumors
 Cranial sinus tumors
 Salivary gland tumors
 Parathyroid gland tumors
 Cancer of larynx, oral cavity, and pharynx
 Thyroid cancer, adenomas, and nodules
 Breast cancer
 Lung cancer
 Kidney cancer
 Cancer of the urinary bladder
 Ovarian cancer
 Uterine cancer
 Prostate cancer
 Cancer of the penis/testes and scrotum
 Gastrointestinal tract with separate discussions of the esophagus,
stomach, small bowel, colon, and rectum
 Hepatobiliary cancer
 Pancreas
 Bone cancer
 Soft-tissue cancer
 Nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma






The conclusion of each section presents a summary of the major
take-home points, including a statement about the likely causal
relationship between radiation exposure and tumors in a given organ
or system. Chapter 11, "Perception of Radiation and Psychological
Effects," is particularly useful in a post--September 11
environment; in its 11 pages, the authors include 6 tables and 4
figures, along with an analysis of the measurement of risk. They
also discuss how risk becomes distorted by the "dread" hazards of
radiation, particularly in crisis situations. While they have no
specific solutions, they offer compelling data to aid in placing
the real risk in perspective.

The text readily fulfills the goals set by its title--it describes
the medical effects (primarily the stochastic risks of cancer) that
can result from exposure to radiation. This book will be valuable
to radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine
physicians, as well as to members of the public who seek an
authoritative reference source on the possible clinical outcomes of
exposure to radiation.

Financial Disclosures: None reported.

H. William Strauss, MD, Reviewer; Lawrence T. Dauer, PhD, Reviewer
Nuclear Medicine
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
straussh at mskcc.org





===================================================================
==

     Please note that this e-mail and any files transmitted with it
may be
     privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure under
     applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the
intended
     recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering
this
     message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that any
     reading, dissemination, distribution, copying, or other use of
this
     communication or any of its attachments is strictly
prohibited.  If
     you have received this communication in error, please notify
the
     sender immediately by replying to this message and deleting
this
     message, any attachments, and all copies and backups from your
     computer.


---------- End Forwarded Message ----------



***********************************************************
S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD               Voice: 615-322-1477
Professor, Emeritus
Dept. of Radiology & Radiological Sciences
Vanderbilt University Medical Center     Home: 615-356-3615
209 Oxford House        Email:s.julian.gibbs at vanderbilt.edu
Nashville TN 37232-4245     or alias:j.gibbs at vanderbilt.edu
***********************************************************
I really haven't lost my mind.  It's backed up on disk
somewhere.
                                 --Anonymous