Emergency localization of radioactive seeds lost during intracoronary brachytherapy.
Recently, it has been reported that brachytherapy catheters ruptured in vivo. Localization of lost beta-radiation-emitting seeds is a problem because no appropriate technique is available that is rapid and precise. We developed a technique to localize beta-emitting seeds utilizing the effect that beta-radiation induces bremsstrahlung. The loss of a single radioactive source was simulated in an Alderson Phantom representing a human body. The beta-induced bremsstrahlung could be detected selectively by a gamma-camera. The position of the radioactive seed could be located within 5 min with an accuracy of +/- 0.5 cm. The result of this study suggests that in an emergency case of loss of a brachytherapy source, a commercially available gamma-camera can be a valuable tool to detect lost beta-radiation-emitting seeds rapidly and precisely. In addition, the technique minimizes the patient's as well as the surgeon's exposure to radiation and reduces the extent of surgical trauma.
Krüll
Andreas
A
Department of Radiotherapy and Radio-Oncology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. kruell@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Köster
Ralf
R
Bohuslavizki
Karl Heinz
KH
Todorovic
Manuel
M
Schmidt
Rainer
R
Thurmann
Horst
H
Brockhoff
Carsten
C
Schwarz
Rudolf
R
Münzel
Thomas
T
Alberti
Winfried
W
D001610:Beta Particles; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004868:Equipment Failure; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D013997:Time Factors; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes
D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes