Open AccessCase Report: Unusual Radiation Risks in the Emergency Department – 125 I beads
Author(s) -
Kang HM,
Seth P,
Ponampalam R,
Somanesan S
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490791602300504
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , radiation exposure , health care , brachytherapy , medical emergency , population , alertness , medical physics , emergency medicine , nuclear medicine , radiation therapy , environmental health , surgery , nursing , psychiatry , economics , economic growth
The use of radioactive substances in medicine accounts for the largest radiation exposure to the population from non‐natural sources worldwide. The use in healthcare confers many benefits, but inappropriate or unskilled use can result in health hazards and safety issues for both patients and healthcare workers. We present two cases of radiation safety issues related to patients presenting to our emergency department after receiving non‐conventional brachytherapy in the form of radiation seeds being implanted in the abdominal wall. These were done for presumed treatment of metastatic cancer in another Asian country. We share our cases to all emergency department staff to heighten their alertness for potential exposure to radiation from patients with radionuclides.