Combined effects of ultrasound and ionizing radiation on lymphocyte chromosomes.

The effects of ionizing radiation and ultrasound upon the induction of chromosomal-type aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges were investigated. No statistically significant increase in the frequencies of dicentric and ring chromosomes or sister chromatid exchanges was discovered after ultrasound exposure alone at the diagnostic level. Nor could elevated frequencies of these phenomena be found following exposure to ultrasound before or after ionizing radiation, compared with those resulting from an equivalent dose of ionizing radiation alone. However, simultaneous exposure to ultrasound and ionizing radiation seemed to induce a slight enhancement of sister chromatid exchanges, although no significant change was noted in the yields of dicentric and ring chromosomes.