A medical event was reported to the
Massachusetts Radiation Control Program on Friday, February 14, 2020. A patient receiving a therapeutic radiation dose to the right lobe of the liver using
Y-90 Theraspheres in 2 fractionated doses was intended to receive 135 Grays for each fraction. The patient was administered 45.5 Grays for the first fraction and 129.4 Grays for the second. The first fraction underdosed the right lobe of the liver by greater than 50 percent and differed from the prescribed dose by greater than 0.5 Sv (50
rem) effective dose equivalent. The actual
underdose for the first fraction was 8,950 rads. This exceeds the reporting limits of
10 CFR 35.3045(a)(1)(i)(c), 'Report and Notification of a Medical Event,' and 105
CMR 120.594(A)(1)(a)(3).
The licensee is investigating the cause of the event and will be reporting the results to the
Massachusetts Radiation Control Program.