Database of radiological incidents and related events--Johnston's Archive
Florence radiotherapy accident, 2006
compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last modified 1 November 2007
Date:
26 May 2006
Location:
McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence, South Carolina, United States
Type of event:
accidental radiotherapy exposure to fetus
Description:
A pregnant woman was administered a thyroid ablation treatment involving 15 mCi of metastable technetium-99 (Tc-99m) and 14 uCi of iodine-131. The woman signed a statement that she was not pregnant and persuaded the administering technician that she was not pregnant; the technician failed to perform a pregnancy test as required by procedure. The woman was 17 weeks' pregnant at the time, however. Her obstetrician reported the issue to the nuclear medicine licensee on 3 October 2006, who estimated the dose to the fetus as 5.17 rad whole body and 13,920 rad to the thyroid. The child was born November 2006 with underactive thyroid gland but no other apparent health problems. The child is receiving thyroid supplement.
Consequences:
1 injury
References:
© 2007 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 1 November 2007.
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