Event Notification Report for October 25, 2002
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
10/24/2002 - 10/25/2002
EVENT NUMBERS
39325
General Information or Other
Event Number: 39325
Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY HOSPITAL
Region: 4
City: TORRANCE State: CA
County: LOS ANGELES
License #: 1258-19
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Licensee: LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY HOSPITAL
Region: 4
City: TORRANCE State: CA
County: LOS ANGELES
License #: 1258-19
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: ROBERT GREGER
HQ OPS Officer: JOHN MacKINNON
Notification Date: 10/28/2002
Notification Time: 23:33 [ET]
Event Date: 10/25/2002
Event Time: 14:30 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/28/2002
Notification Time: 23:33 [ET]
Event Date: 10/25/2002
Event Time: 14:30 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 10/28/2002
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
CLAUDE JOHNSON (R4)
MELVYN LEACH (NMSS)
CLAUDE JOHNSON (R4)
MELVYN LEACH (NMSS)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - MISSING IODINE- 125 SEEDS
The Medical Physicist from Little Company of Mary Hospital called to report the loss of 5 Iodine-125 seeds of approximately 0.4 millicuries each. The facility was doing an implant for the treatment of prostate cancer and had cut the strips in half (5 seeds each). After having implanted 9 strips they were unable to locate the tenth piece. They surveyed the room and trash and did not find the missing seeds. The patient was fluoroscoped and x-rayed, the implanted seeds were counted and verified with what had been implanted. A representative from Amersham was present during the procedure and it was not determined if the tube shipped was half empty.
The seeds came in steel tubes of 10. It is possible that one steel tube only had 5 when sent. Implant performed at 11:00 on 10/24/02. The tubes were counted, but not opened until the procedure (sterile) was initiated.
The licensee kept looking for the missing Iodine-125 seeds and today, October 28, 2002, concluded that the event was reportable and notified the State of CA today at 1458 hours PST.
The Medical Physicist from Little Company of Mary Hospital called to report the loss of 5 Iodine-125 seeds of approximately 0.4 millicuries each. The facility was doing an implant for the treatment of prostate cancer and had cut the strips in half (5 seeds each). After having implanted 9 strips they were unable to locate the tenth piece. They surveyed the room and trash and did not find the missing seeds. The patient was fluoroscoped and x-rayed, the implanted seeds were counted and verified with what had been implanted. A representative from Amersham was present during the procedure and it was not determined if the tube shipped was half empty.
The seeds came in steel tubes of 10. It is possible that one steel tube only had 5 when sent. Implant performed at 11:00 on 10/24/02. The tubes were counted, but not opened until the procedure (sterile) was initiated.
The licensee kept looking for the missing Iodine-125 seeds and today, October 28, 2002, concluded that the event was reportable and notified the State of CA today at 1458 hours PST.