Lethal acute gamma radiation accident at Kjeller, Norway. Report of a case.

On September 2, 1982, a 64-year-old man accidently received a heavy dose of gamma radiation in a plant for sterilization by radiation. He developed an acute radiation syndrome. The leukocyte count rapidly diminished to low values, and extensive chromosome injuries could be demonstrated in cultured lymphocytes. He was hospitalized in an isolated room, and received large doses of antibiotics, and transfusions of leukocytes, platelets and blood. He died anuric on the 13th day. From spectroscopic analyses of electron-spin resonance in irradiated material the mean dose in the whole body was estimated to be 22.5 +/- 2 Gy. The course of the illness and the findings at autopsy are briefly described.