Which are the long-term, dose-related effects of radiation exposure?

• A. damage to genetic structures
• B. skin erythema
• C. cancer and cataract formation
• D. acute radiation syndrome

Answer: (C)

Long-term radiation effects are those that appear after a delay and become more likely as the absorbed dose increases. The classic late outcomes tied to dose are cancer and cataract formation: the risk of cancer rises with cumulative dose and can manifest years or decades later, while cataracts develop over time and with higher accumulated exposure. In contrast, skin erythema is an early, threshold-dependent skin reaction that shows up soon after exposure, and acute radiation syndrome occurs only after a very large, immediate dose, presenting with systemic illness rather than long-term sequelae. While genetic damage can be a concern, the most recognized long-term, dose-related effects in diagnostic radiology contexts are cancer and cataracts.