The Quantity of Strontium 90 in the Bone of Leukemic Patients

Abstract

Analysis of Sr and measurements of radioactivity of ⁹⁰Sr were made on bones obtained from 43 leukemic patients at autopsy performed over a period from 1962 to 1965 at the Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine. The quantity of ⁹⁰Sr in the bones of leukemic patients averaged 3.17±2.69/μμCi Sr/ gCa in cases under 19 years of age and 0.47±0.31μμCi Sr/gCa over 20 years of age. These values are not significantly different from those of normal Japanese. Bone marrow dose from intraosseous ⁹⁰Sr was estimated at 2. 22 and 0. 33 millirads per year for each age group, respectively. These levels are much lower than the estimated marrow dose of 52. 8 millirads per year at average medical exposure.