A radiotherapy accident in Columbus, Ohio, also known as the Riverside radiation case, occurred as the result of an incorrectly calibrated cobalt teletherapy unit, occurred between 1974 and 1976, leading to 10 deaths.
Between 1958 and 1972, the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio became the first hospital in Central Ohio to develop an extensive cobalt therapy program, where the use of cobalt-60 became the dominant radiation source for treating patients with cancer. In 1973, 30-year-old Joel Axt was hired by the hospital as the resident physicist, as part of a plan to further expand the hospital's radiation therapy program. Axt was previously a teacher at the Xavier University of Louisiana, and had clinical experience at the University of California Medical Center, though his experience was limited to 14 months and was not enough to qualify for American Board of Radiology certification. After Axt's arrival, he had to "reconstruct Riverside’s radiation physics program almost from scratch," as the previous contracted physicists had removed all his equipment.[1]
Incident
In 1974, Axt calibrated a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit with an incorrect decay curve. The calculated decay rate was more rapid than the real source, leading to a dose rate underestimated by 10–45% and an overestimated treatment time.[2][3] No other calibrations and checks were performed between May 1974 and January 1976. Axt later attributed it to his other demanding responsibilities and high-priority projects at the hospital. By January 1976, patients had been complaining about what would be symptoms of radiation overexposure. A radiation therapist prompted Axt to make a measurement of the output, revealing Axt's mistake, and the teletherapy unit was adjusted. In March, the hospital asked an external team from the MD Anderson Cancer Center to review the accident. After the accident was leaked to the public in April, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission began its own investigation.[1]
During the investigations, Axt attributed the high output measured to a faulty measurement system, and produced ten calibration documents to support this theory, though under further investigations he admitted that he had falsified his reports. Nine out of ten of Axt's reports were found to be fabricated.[1][2]
Over a 22-month period, 426 patients received significant overdoses.[3] Around three hundred of the patients died within a year, mainly due to their pre-existing cancer. Of the 183 patients who survived the first year,[4] 88 showed "immediate severe complications related to the irradiated sites."[2] 10 fatalities were known.[5]
As a result of this accident, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued extensive regulations on the training requirements, and quality assurance procedures required when using cobalt-60 machines.[3] 102 lawsuits have been filed by the survivors and families of the deceased. Axt was fired and disappeared, but he was later found in Miami, and took a deposition in 1977.[1]
^ abcd. Columbus Monthly. 2014-02-06. Archived from the original on 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
^ abcValentin, J (2000). "Case histories of major accidental exposures in radiotherapy". Annals of the ICRP. SAGE Publications. 30 (3): 23–29. doi:10.1016/s0146-6453(01)00039-2. ISSN 0146-6453.
^ abcAlmond, Peter (2013). Cobalt Blues : The Story of Leonard Grimmett, the Man Behind the First Cobalt-60 Unit in the United States. New York, NY: Springer. p. 113. ISBN978-1-4614-4923-2. OCLC 820724368.
^Nénot, J-C (2002). Second Henri Jammet Memorial Lecture. Radiation Accidents - an Overview and Feedback, 1950 - 2000. 8th Coordination Meeting of World Health Organization Collaborating Centres in Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network, REMPAN.
^Ricks, Robert C.; Berger, Mary Ellen; Holloway, Elizabeth C.; Goans, Ronald E. (2000). (PDF). International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association 10. Hiroshima, Japan: Japan Health Physics Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-24.
January 06, 2023
columbus, radiotherapy, accident, radiotherapy, accident, columbus, ohio, also, known, riverside, radiation, case, occurred, result, incorrectly, calibrated, cobalt, teletherapy, unit, occurred, between, 1974, 1976, leading, deaths, contents, background, incid. A radiotherapy accident in Columbus Ohio also known as the Riverside radiation case occurred as the result of an incorrectly calibrated cobalt teletherapy unit occurred between 1974 and 1976 leading to 10 deaths Contents 1 Background 2 Incident 3 See Also 4 ReferencesBackground EditBetween 1958 and 1972 the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus Ohio became the first hospital in Central Ohio to develop an extensive cobalt therapy program where the use of cobalt 60 became the dominant radiation source for treating patients with cancer In 1973 30 year old Joel Axt was hired by the hospital as the resident physicist as part of a plan to further expand the hospital s radiation therapy program Axt was previously a teacher at the Xavier University of Louisiana and had clinical experience at the University of California Medical Center though his experience was limited to 14 months and was not enough to qualify for American Board of Radiology certification After Axt s arrival he had to reconstruct Riverside s radiation physics program almost from scratch as the previous contracted physicists had removed all his equipment 1 Incident EditIn 1974 Axt calibrated a cobalt 60 teletherapy unit with an incorrect decay curve The calculated decay rate was more rapid than the real source leading to a dose rate underestimated by 10 45 and an overestimated treatment time 2 3 No other calibrations and checks were performed between May 1974 and January 1976 Axt later attributed it to his other demanding responsibilities and high priority projects at the hospital By January 1976 patients had been complaining about what would be symptoms of radiation overexposure A radiation therapist prompted Axt to make a measurement of the output revealing Axt s mistake and the teletherapy unit was adjusted In March the hospital asked an external team from the MD Anderson Cancer Center to review the accident After the accident was leaked to the public in April the Nuclear Regulatory Commission began its own investigation 1 During the investigations Axt attributed the high output measured to a faulty measurement system and produced ten calibration documents to support this theory though under further investigations he admitted that he had falsified his reports Nine out of ten of Axt s reports were found to be fabricated 1 2 Over a 22 month period 426 patients received significant overdoses 3 Around three hundred of the patients died within a year mainly due to their pre existing cancer Of the 183 patients who survived the first year 4 88 showed immediate severe complications related to the irradiated sites 2 10 fatalities were known 5 As a result of this accident the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued extensive regulations on the training requirements and quality assurance procedures required when using cobalt 60 machines 3 102 lawsuits have been filed by the survivors and families of the deceased Axt was fired and disappeared but he was later found in Miami and took a deposition in 1977 1 See Also EditList of civilian radiation accidents 1996 San Juan de Dios radiotherapy accident Clinic of Zaragoza radiotherapy accidentReferences Edit a b c d The Riverside Radiation Tragedy Columbus Monthly 2014 02 06 Archived from the original on 2019 09 24 Retrieved 2021 05 08 a b c Valentin J 2000 Case histories of major accidental exposures in radiotherapy Annals of the ICRP SAGE Publications 30 3 23 29 doi 10 1016 s0146 6453 01 00039 2 ISSN 0146 6453 a b c Almond Peter 2013 Cobalt Blues The Story of Leonard Grimmett the Man Behind the First Cobalt 60 Unit in the United States New York NY Springer p 113 ISBN 978 1 4614 4923 2 OCLC 820724368 Nenot J C 2002 Second Henri Jammet Memorial Lecture Radiation Accidents an Overview and Feedback 1950 2000 8th Coordination Meeting of World Health Organization Collaborating Centres in Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network REMPAN Ricks Robert C Berger Mary Ellen Holloway Elizabeth C Goans Ronald E 2000 REAC TS Radiation Accident Registry Update of Accidents in the United States PDF International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association 10 Hiroshima Japan Japan Health Physics Society Archived from the original PDF on 2021 02 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Columbus radiotherapy accident amp oldid 1060005515, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
