ML20202D308
| ML20202D308 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/19/1977 |
| From: | Kopeck J NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PR-77-102, NUDOCS 9902010361 | |
| Download: ML20202D308 (1) | |
Text
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.#"'"g UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMIS.c
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OFFICE OF PUBI' AFFAIRS 3
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WASHINGTC... D.C. 20555 No.77-102 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
John T. Kopeck (Mailed - May 19, 1977)
Tel.
301/492-7715 l
l NRC PROPOSES TO AMEND REGULATION ON USE OF TELETHERAPY UNITS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to amend its regulations to require that NRC licensees have a qualified expert perform both full calibration and spot-check measure-ments of teletherapy units which use radiation to treat patients with cancer.
The proposed amendment to Part 35 of NRC regulations also requires that licensees notify the Commission when their mea-surements indicate that patients treated with teletherapy units may have received radiation doses differing from the prescribed dose by more than 10 percent.
The amendment additionally de-fines the qualifications of the expert who would perform the periodic full calibration and spot-check measurements.
The NRC has investigated an incident in which approximately 400 patients treated for cancer with a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit received doses that exceeded prescribed doses by more than 10 percent.
These overexposures occurred because the tele-therapy unit had not been properly calibrated.
Other evidence obtained by the NRC indicated that a number of units in the U.S. had not been calibrated for as long as five years.
Soon after its investigation, the Commission took actions to assure that all teletherapy units licensed by the NRC were properly calibrated.
The Commission believes that these actions are adequate to prevent recurrence of overexposure events, due to improperly calibrated units, during the time required to implement necessary changes in its regulations.
The Commission invites interested persons to submit written comments or suggestions on the proposed amendment.
These should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
- 20555, Attention:
Docketing and Service Branch by July 5.
l 9902010361 770519 PDR PRESS R y
HG-77-102 PDR