ENS 50832
ENS Event | |
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05:00 Feb 10, 2012 | |
Title | Agreement State Report - Medical Overdose |
Event Description | The following report was received via e-mail:
During a routine inspection, an Agency [Massachusetts Radiation Control Program] inspector identified a past possible gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (GSR also known as gamma knife) medical event that occurred on February 10, 2012 and had not been reported by the licensee. The licensee's written directive was incomplete. Page three of the written directive that described plug placement in the helmet used for treatment was not printed. As a result of the missing information, sixteen gamma knife plugs were not placed in position as intended and instead collimators were placed, the same size collimators used for the remaining plug pattern. Consequently, the patient received an 8.8% overdose to the treatment site. Based on the initial exposure determination to the treatment site by the licensee, the licensee concluded this was not a reportable medical event. However, the dose to tissue other than the treatment site exceeded 0.5 Sv (50 rem) and 50% of the dose expected from the administration defined in the written directive. This is a reportable medical event in accordance with 105 CMR 120.594(A)(1)(c). The dose to tissue other than the treatment site, tissue located beneath the skin and each of the sixteen collimators was calculated to be 71 rem, and greater than 50% of the dose expected from the administration. The dose expected to the tissue, tissue beneath the skin other than the treatment site from the administration defined in the written directive was expected to be less than 710 mrem. The gamma knife, a Leksell Gamma System model 24001 Type C device contained 201 Elekta model 43685 sealed sources totaling approximately 2,519 total curies of cobalt-60 on the date of the event, February 10, 2012. The licensee reported that the authorized user determined that the plug omission error would have no significant detrimental effect on the outcome of the treatment or patient condition and that no further action was necessary in the care of the patient. The licensee reported that that the authorized user reported the event in detail to the patient and provided a written description to the referring physician. The Agency issued notice of violations to the licensee and the licensee described its corrective actions in its response to the notice of violations. Corrective action: The licensee reported that following the omission of the plugs, the Radiation Oncologist Authorized User would designate on page 1 of the written directive if plugs were used and that this would alert the treatment team to identify and implement the appropriate plug pattern; that the licensee replaced the model 24001 Type C gamma knife with a model Perfexion gamma knife that does not use plugs; and that written directive printouts now contain both the individual page number and the total number of pages in the written directive. A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient. |
Where | |
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Tufts Medical Center Boston, Massachusetts (NRC Region 1) | |
License number: | 68-0263 |
Organization: | Ma Radiation Control Program |
Reporting | |
Agreement State | |
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+26525.25 h1,105.219 days <br />157.888 weeks <br />36.334 months <br />) | |
Opened: | Joshua Daehler 10:15 Feb 19, 2015 |
NRC Officer: | Mark Abramovitz |
Last Updated: | Feb 19, 2015 |
50832 - NRC Website | |
Tufts Medical Center with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 564402023-03-29T02:30:00029 March 2023 02:30:00
[Table view]Agreement State Dose Above Prescribed Dose ENS 555572021-11-02T17:25:0002 November 2021 17:25:00 Agreement State Y-90 Microsphere Medical Event ENS 490492013-05-17T04:00:00017 May 2013 04:00:00 Agreement State Massachusetts Agreement State Report - Medical Event Concerning Gamma Knife Therapy ENS 508322012-02-10T05:00:00010 February 2012 05:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Medical Overdose 2023-03-29T02:30:00 | |