Re: Death and Cremation of Prostate Seed Implant Patients

[NSSIHOU@aol.com]

WITH RESPECT TO PROSTATE IMPLANTS, CURRENT IMPLANTS ARE PRIMARILY IR-192, 
AU-198, I-125 AND A FEW OTHER RELATIVELY SHORT LIVED NUCLIDES. NSSI 
MANUFACTURED  THOUSANDS OF THE AU-198 IMPLANTS FROM 1971 THROUGH 1995. IT IS 
MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE AU-198 IS LEFT PERMANENTLY IN THE PROSTATE WHILE 
THE IR-192 AND I-125 ARE COMMONLY REMOVED AFTER TREATMENT. OTHER SHORT LIVED 
NUCLIDES ARE ALSO MANUFACTURED FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT IS THEREFOR LIKELY THAT 
ANY PERMANENT SEEDS FOUND IN THE PROSTATE AT THE TIME OF CREMATION OR AUTOPSY 
WOULD BE DECAYED TO BACKGROUND. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IF THE PERSON WAS OLD 
ENOUGH THEY COULD HAVE BEEN IMPLANTED WITH RADON SEEDS.

I AM AWARE OF CASES WITH AU-198 WHERE THE PATIENT DIED WITHIN DAYS AFTER 
IMPLANTATION. ONE OF THE BODIES WAS CREMATED AND THE AU-198 SEEDS WERE FOUND 
AFTER CREMATION. AS THE SEEDS ARE SOLID GOLD CLAD WITH PLATINUM, THERE WAS NO 
CONTAMINATION OBSERVED IN THE ASH.  IN OTHER CASES THE BODY WAS HELD FOR A 
SHORT TIME FOR DECAY. UPON DELIVERY, THE FAMILY AND MORTICIAN WERE CAUTIONED 
AND THE BURIAL PROCEEDED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. 

I WOULD GUESS THAT MOST FAMILY MEMBERS ARE AWARE THAT A PATIENT HAS RECEIVED 
SOME FORM OF RADIATION TREATMENT BUT WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THEIR FAMILY 
MEMBER HAD RADIOACTIVE SEEDS PERMANENTLY IMPLANTED. I WOULD ALSO GUESS THAT 
THE RADIOTHERAPIST WOULD BE THE LAST TO BE ADVISED IF A PATIENT WITH STILL 
ACTIVE SEEDS  DIES AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL.

IF THERE IS TRULY A CONCERN ABOUT CONTAMINATION OR EXPOSURE TO PERSONNEL 
DURING AN AUTOPSY OR CREMATION, THE CONCERNED PARTY SHOULD PURCHASE AN 
INEXPENSIVE SURVEY INSTRUMENT AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO SURVEY EACH BODY 
UPON RECEIPT RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO RECORD AND REPORT EACH IMPLANTATION. 

ROBERT D. GALLAGHER
NSSI
713 641-0391
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