title: Tandem tip fracture: a rare complication of intracavitary therapy of cervix cancer and how to avoid its occurrence.
abstract: A case is described in which the distal tip of a tandem fractured off in a patient's uterus during an intracavitary application of a tandem and ovoids. Potential contributing factors are evaluated. Methods to prevent and detect structural defects in tandems before they become clinically manifest are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Anscher
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bentel
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oleson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*