The following information was provide by the licensee via facsimile:
[The Department of Veteran Affairs National Health Physics Program called] per 10 CFR 35.3045 to notify [the NRC] of a possible medical event at the VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, a permittee under the VA license. This event was discovered on February 25, 2005.
On February 24, 2005, a permanent-implant prostate brachytherapy procedure was performed at the medical center. 84 Iodine-125 seeds were implanted in the patient. These seeds had around 400 microcuries per seed. A number of seeds were mistakenly placed in fatty tissue, outside of the intended area of treatment.
Based on a preliminary evaluation, a possible medical event occurred since the dose to the prostate was possibly more than 20 percent less than that prescribed and a dose to tissue other than the treatment site is possibly more than 50 rem and greater than 50% of the prescribed dose.
The authorized user notified the patient and will notify the referring physician within 24-hours of discovery.
The National Health Physics Program intends to conduct a reactive inspection next week.