Unaudited Interim Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Asset impairments		$ 13,200,000	$ 9,000,000					$ 22,200,000
Reversal of restructuring costs			1,600,000	1,100,000		1,100,000
Decrease in income tax provision			1,100,000	(16,500,000)	1,100,000
Increase (decrease) in net income attributable to common share holders	14,800,000	10,400,000	5,800,000	(34,800,000)	(12,600,000)	(188,700,000)	(1,900,000)
Decreased diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ 0.40	$ 0.14	$ 2.09	$ 0.02
Acquisition related item, purchased IPR&D charge	1,900,000	2,400,000					3,000,000	3,500,000	3,500,000	2,600,000
Restructuring charges	19,000,000				10,000,000			17,400,000	7,800,000	16,700,000
Legal settlement costs, gross						195,500,000
Impairment of Greek bonds included in other (income) expense, net				4,500,000	7,000,000				11,500,000
Acquisition related transaction costs				3,800,000					3,800,000
Acquisition related items consisting of integration costs				4,100,000				2,100,000	4,400,000	9,300,000
Brachytherapy Matter
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Legal settlement costs, gross				$ 51,000,000