The following report was received from the
Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Radiation Protection via email:
On September 12, 2016, the Department [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] was notified by Ephrata Community Hospital that while injecting technetium-99m (Tc-99m) into a patient, a leak occurred in the delivery system resulting in skin contamination and a dose to the patient's skin estimated to be greater than 50 rem. It is reportable per 10 CFR 35.3045(a)(3).
A 29 millicurie (mCi) Tc-99m dose was ordered for a patient bone scan. While injecting the dose into the patient's IV port the technologist noticed leakage and immediately stopped the injection. The patient's arm was wiped and cleaned with gauze several times. Ephrata Hospital estimates the skin contamination from that (unknown) residual activity to be approximately 15.8 mCi, resulting in a dose to the patient's skin greater than 50 rem.
Event Report ID No.: PA160025
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.