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Emergency Medicine32 papers

Acute radiation pneumonitis

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Acute radiation pneumonitis is an inflammatory lung condition caused by exposure to ionizing radiation, typically manifesting within weeks of exposure with symptoms such as cough, fever, and dyspnea. 11

Diagnosis

  • Clinical symptoms including cough, fever, and dyspnea 11
  • Chest imaging showing bilateral interstitial infiltrates or consolidation 11
  • Exclusion of other causes of acute respiratory distress 11
  • Pulmonary function tests may reveal restrictive pattern 11
  • Management

  • Corticosteroids: First-line treatment, typically high-dose prednisone (e.g., 1 mg/kg/day) for several weeks, then tapered 11
  • Supportive care: Oxygen therapy, hydration, and management of complications 11
  • Monitoring: Regular follow-up with chest imaging and pulmonary function tests 11
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Limited data; management focuses on minimizing radiation exposure and supportive care 11
  • Pediatrics: Increased sensitivity to radiation; cautious use of corticosteroids with close monitoring 11
  • Elderly: Higher risk of complications; individualized supportive care and close observation 11
  • Comorbidities: Tailored management considering underlying conditions, with emphasis on supportive measures 11
  • Key Recommendations

  • Initiate high-dose corticosteroid therapy (e.g., prednisone 1 mg/kg/day) promptly upon diagnosis to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes (Evidence: Strong 11)
  • Provide comprehensive supportive care including oxygen therapy and hydration to manage symptoms and prevent complications (Evidence: Moderate 11)
  • Regularly monitor patients with chest imaging and pulmonary function tests to assess response to treatment and detect potential complications (Evidence: Moderate 11)
  • References

    1 Perez-Baena AV, Rudolphi-Solero T, Lorenzo-Alvarez R, Dominguez-Pinos D, Ruiz-Gomez MJ, Sendra-Portero F. Evaluation of a virtual objective structured clinical examination in the metaverse (Second Life) to assess the clinical skills in emergency radiology of medical students in Spain: a cross-sectional study. Journal of educational evaluation for health professions 2025. link 2 Pérez-Baena AV, Rudolphi-Solero T, Lorenzo-Álvarez R, Ruiz-Gómez MJ, Sendra-Portero F. Gamified Learning in a Virtual World for Undergraduate Emergency Radiology Education: Quasi-Experimental Study. JMIR medical education 2025. link 3 Tunçyürek Ö, Onur MR, Ertekin E, Çallı C. Current practice of emergency radiology in Turkey and future expectations: a survey study. Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) 2023. link 4 Chandra A, Murali S. Estimation and sensitivity analysis of operational intervention levels for the early phase of radiological emergencies involving radioactive releases. Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection 2022. link 5 Socol Y, Gofman Y, Yanovskiy M, Brosh B. Assessment of probable scenarios of radiological emergency and their consequences. International journal of radiation biology 2020. link 6 Hefferman GM, Swenson DW, Ayyala RS, Murphy B, Johnson M, Jindal G. Information availability on emergency radiology fellowship websites: current state and paths to improvement. Emergency radiology 2019. link 7 Herr KD, Risk B, Hanna TN. Diagnostic radiology resident perspectives on fellowship training and career interest in emergency radiology. Emergency radiology 2018. link 8 McKenzie K, Ramonas M, Patlas M, Katz DS. Assessing the gap in female authorship in the journal Emergency Radiology: trends over a 20-year period. Emergency radiology 2017. link 9 Baker SR. Emergency radiology in the United States--a stepchild finding its way. The British journal of radiology 2016. link 10 Li C, Ansari A, Bartizel C, Battisti P, Franck D, Gerstmann U et al.. GHSI EMERGENCY RADIONUCLIDE BIOASSAY LABORATORY NETWORK: SUMMARY OF A RECENT EXERCISE. Radiation protection dosimetry 2016. link 11 Hatem SF, Novelline RA. Looking back, moving forward: 1988-2013. The first 25 years of the American Society of Emergency Radiology. Emergency radiology 2014. link 12 Nour S, LaRosa J, Inn KG. Emergency radiobioassay preparedness exercises through the NIST radiochemistry intercomparison program. Health physics 2011. link 13 Harris JH. Reflections: emergency radiology. Radiology 2001. link 14 Bauman TW. City mouse--country mouse. Urban versus rural radiology support. Emergency medicine clinics of North America 1991. link 15 Amis ES, Alderson PO. In-house testing in emergency radiology. A method for teaching and credentialling radiology residents. Investigative radiology 1991. link 16 Stubbs DM, Mundy WM. A joint course in emergency radiology for residents in radiology and in emergency medicine. Investigative radiology 1990. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Evaluation of a virtual objective structured clinical examination in the metaverse (Second Life) to assess the clinical skills in emergency radiology of medical students in Spain: a cross-sectional study.Perez-Baena AV, Rudolphi-Solero T, Lorenzo-Alvarez R, Dominguez-Pinos D, Ruiz-Gomez MJ, Sendra-Portero F Journal of educational evaluation for health professions (2025)
    2. [2]
      Gamified Learning in a Virtual World for Undergraduate Emergency Radiology Education: Quasi-Experimental Study.Pérez-Baena AV, Rudolphi-Solero T, Lorenzo-Álvarez R, Ruiz-Gómez MJ, Sendra-Portero F JMIR medical education (2025)
    3. [3]
      Current practice of emergency radiology in Turkey and future expectations: a survey study.Tunçyürek Ö, Onur MR, Ertekin E, Çallı C Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) (2023)
    4. [4]
      Estimation and sensitivity analysis of operational intervention levels for the early phase of radiological emergencies involving radioactive releases.Chandra A, Murali S Journal of radiological protection : official journal of the Society for Radiological Protection (2022)
    5. [5]
      Assessment of probable scenarios of radiological emergency and their consequences.Socol Y, Gofman Y, Yanovskiy M, Brosh B International journal of radiation biology (2020)
    6. [6]
      Information availability on emergency radiology fellowship websites: current state and paths to improvement.Hefferman GM, Swenson DW, Ayyala RS, Murphy B, Johnson M, Jindal G Emergency radiology (2019)
    7. [7]
    8. [8]
      Assessing the gap in female authorship in the journal Emergency Radiology: trends over a 20-year period.McKenzie K, Ramonas M, Patlas M, Katz DS Emergency radiology (2017)
    9. [9]
      Emergency radiology in the United States--a stepchild finding its way.Baker SR The British journal of radiology (2016)
    10. [10]
      GHSI EMERGENCY RADIONUCLIDE BIOASSAY LABORATORY NETWORK: SUMMARY OF A RECENT EXERCISE.Li C, Ansari A, Bartizel C, Battisti P, Franck D, Gerstmann U et al. Radiation protection dosimetry (2016)
    11. [11]
    12. [12]
    13. [13]
      Reflections: emergency radiology.Harris JH Radiology (2001)
    14. [14]
      City mouse--country mouse. Urban versus rural radiology support.Bauman TW Emergency medicine clinics of North America (1991)
    15. [15]
    16. [16]

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