Ann Occup Environ Med.  2014 ;26(1):54-54. 10.1186/s40557-014-0054-8.

A case of chronic myeloid leukemia in a diagnostic radiographer

• Park C
• Choi S
• Kim D
• Park J
• Lee S

• KMID: 2153932
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-014-0054-8

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Occupational radiation exposure causes certain types of cancer, specifically hematopoietic diseases like leukemia. In Korea, radiation exposure is monitored and recorded by law, and guidelines for compensation of radiation-related diseases were implemented in 2001. However, thus far, no occupation-related disease was approved for compensation under these guidelines. Here, we report the first case of radiation-related disease approved by the compensation committee of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, based on the probability of causation.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 45-year-old man complained of chronic fatigue and myalgia for several days. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient was a diagnostic radiographer at a diagnostic radiation department and was exposed to ionizing radiation for 21 years before chronic myeloid leukemia was diagnosed. His job involved taking simple radiographs, computed tomography scans, and measuring bone marrow density.
CONCLUSION
To our knowledge, this is the first approved case report using quantitative assessment of radiation. More approved cases are expected based on objective radiation exposure data and the probability of causation. We need to find a resolution to the ongoing demands for appropriate compensation and improvements to the environment at radiation workplaces.

Keyword

Chronic myeloid leukemia; Diagnostic radiation; Occupational diseases; Occupational radiation; Probability of causation; Workers' compensation

MeSH Terms

Bone Marrow
Compensation and Redress
Fatigue
Humans
Jurisprudence
Korea
Leukemia
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*
Middle Aged
Myalgia
Occupational Diseases
Radiation, Ionizing
Workers' Compensation