Radium in Human Bone: The Microradiographic Appearance

Abstract

Microradiographs of thin sections of undecalcified bone from 12 human beings who carried Ra226 for at least 20 years show several characteristic changes in mineral structure. Occlusion of the Haversian canal with mineral of a higher density than that normally found in bone is the most prevalent change. In the range of radium burdens examined, 0.8 to 10.5 [mu]c retained terminally, the fraction of Haversian canals plugged increases with the Ra226 burden. No correlation between occluded canals and radium hot spots was found; the changes in structure visible in the microradiographs are presumed symptomatic of the primary radiation damage.