Brachytherapy programs within radiation therapy departments are subject to stringent radiation safety requirements in order to ensure the safety of the staff and patients. Training programs often include brachytherapy-specific radiation safety training modules that address the specific risks associated with radioactive sources, emergency procedures, and regulatory requirements specific to the use of radioisotopes. Unlike other uses of radioactive materials, brachytherapy uses sealed sources and therefore under routine operations does not encounter radioactive contaminants. This article presents an unusual clinical situation in which an 125I brachytherapy seed was damaged during routine clinical workflow, resulting in radioactive contamination within the clinical environment. Decisions made at the time of the incident resulted in contamination that spread beyond the initial location. The incident highlighted a shortcoming of the radiation safety program in preparing staff for the possibility of having to deal with unsealed radioactivity. Brachytherapy programs would be strengthened by including training specific to radioactive contamination in their emergency training to equip staff to respond to unexpected damage to the sealed sources.

中文翻译：

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近距离放射治疗过程中破碎的 125I 粒子造成的污染。

放射治疗科内的近距离放射治疗项目须遵守严格的放射安全要求，以确保工作人员和患者的安全。培训计划通常包括近距离放射治疗特定的辐射安全培训模块，用于解决与放射源相关的特定风险、应急程序以及放射性同位素使用的特定监管要求。与放射性材料的其他用途不同，近距离放射治疗使用密封源，因此在常规操作下不会遇到放射性污染物。本文介绍了一种不寻常的临床情况，其中 125I 近距离放射治疗粒子在常规临床工作流程中被损坏，导致临床环境内出现放射性污染。事件发生时做出的决定导致污染扩散到最初位置之外。该事件凸显了辐射安全计划在让工作人员为可能不得不处理未密封放射性做好准备方面的缺陷。将通过在应急培训中纳入专门针对放射性污染的培训来加强近距离放射治疗计划，以使工作人员能够应对密封源的意外损坏。