The following excerpted information was obtained from the State of
Washington via email:
On 8/31/2018, two [70 microCurie] I-125 seeds were implanted into a patient's breast associated with an RSL [radioactive seed localization] procedure; they were explanted on 9/4/2018. On 9/5/2018, [the State of Washington] was notified by a Nuclear Medicine Technician from Polyclinic-Madison Center (904 Seventh Avenue, Seattle) that I-125 seeds had been returned to them following a pathologic exam at the Polyclinic Histology Laboratory.
The leaking seeds and surgical clips were placed in a shielded container that housed multiple seeds undergoing decay-in-storage prior to disposal. The three plastic containers that were used (specimen cup, sentinel node container, and breast tissue container) have sealed lids and are presently located in the shielded Biodex storage locker located in Polyclinic's nuclear cardiology Hot Lab at Madison Center. All three containers have internal I-125 contamination from the leaking seed. In an attempt to establish a mechanism of action for the leaking source, the surgeon was interviewed and nothing in the way of an apparent cause was identified. Additionally, the surgical notes did not identify any anomalies.
Although a breach of source containment occurred for an unknown cause, the radiation exposures received by personnel involved with handling of the leaking seed and the patient that had the seed implanted in breast tissue for four days were assessed as not representing a safety issue for any individual.
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf