ACCIDENTAL OVEREXPOSURE OF RADIOTHERAPY PATIENTS IN BIALYSTOK

[Jose Julio Rozental <joseroze@netvision.net.il>]

Dear Colleagues



On 27 February 2001, a radiological accident occurred in the Bialystok Oncology Centre (BOC) in Poland that affected five patients who were undergoing radiotherapy. The patients were given significantly higher doses than intended and, as a result, developed radiation induced injuries.



The accident resulted from a transitory loss of electrical power that caused an automatic shutdown of the Polish built linear accelerator, an

accelerator of the NEPTUN 10P type. The power cut occurred during the radiation treatment of a patient. Following the restoration of electrical power, the machine was restarted after its controls had been checked. The treatments were resumed and the patient receiving radiotherapy at the time of the power cut and four additional patients were treated.



Please find the description in the new IAEA publication, as well as the site to download: ACCIDENTAL OVEREXPOSURE OF RADIOTHERAPY PATIENTS IN BIALYSTOK, POLAND - IAEA STI/PUB/1180,  2004

http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1180_web.pdf



Jose Julio Rozental

joseroze@netvision.net.il

Israel