Source, Brachytherapy, Radionuclide

Reports per year

Source: FDA adverse event reports by year received, 2012–2026. Reporting paused during the 2026 MAUDE-to-AEMS transition and has since resumed.

Recent recalls

• 2018-04-27TerminatedLabeling mix-ups

  BARD BrachySource Iodine125 radioactive seeds consist of a welded titanium capsule containing the I125 absorbed onto a nickel / copper-coated, gold-cored aluminum wire (reference Figure 1 below). The I125 has a half-life of 59.6 days and decays by electron capture with the emission of characteristic photons and Auger electrons. The principal photon emissions are 27.4 and 31 keV x-rays and 35.5 keV gamma. The titanium wall of the BrachySource Seed Implants absorbs the electrons.

  Bard Medical Division is recalling the BARD BrachySource Iodine125 Radioactive Seeds in Mick Applicators and BARD BrachySource Iodine125 Radioactive Seeds Loose in Vial with Sterile Spacers. Because the incorrect dosage level radioactive seeds were mixed up and sent to two hospitals. One Hospital ordered BrachySource Iodine125 0.36 mCi radioactive seeds but instead received BrachySource Iodine125 0.28 mCi radioactive seeds and vice versa for the other hospital affected.

• 2012-04-10TerminatedLabeling design

  VariSeed 7.1, software application, part number H62, manufactured by Varian Medical Systems. VariSeed 7.1 is a computer based software application for planning and evaluating prostate brachytherapy procedures.

  Brachytherapy device requires the user to enter radioactive source activity, but software may specify unintended units for activity and lead to overdose in patient treatment.

• 2011-11-22TerminatedProcess control

  Rapid Strand Rx; the RAPID Strand Rx kit consists of custom loaded absorbable seeding spacers and I-125 radionuclide brachytherapy sources (seeds) spaced at prescribed distance and configuration within a sleeve (tube) made of absorbable suture material, stiffened, loaded into prostate seeding needles, packaged and then sterilized by Gamma sterilization method, accompanied by a calibration strand, a sealed source calibration certificate (100% assay report), a radiograph of the loaded needles in the needle-holding card, and a source certification technical data sheet.; Products Provided by: Oncura, 3350 North Ridge Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 USA, Prescription Filled by: AnazaoHealth, 5710 Hoover Blvd., Tampa, FL 33634 USA; product identifier: I125RSRX, model 7000. RAPID Strand Rx is indicated for permanent interstitial implantation of selected localized tumors that are of low to moderate radio sensitivity. It may be used either as primary treatment (such as prostate cancer or unresectable tumors) or for the treatment of residual disease after excision of the primary tumor. RAPID Strand Rx may be indicated for use concurrent with or at the completion of other treatment modalities such as external beam radiation therapy.

  There is a potential brachytherapy over or under dose with the RAPID Strand Rx kit that may impact patient therapy.

• 2005-07-07TerminatedOther

  PG910 Spacers, Part number SP101, loaded into Bard Express Seeding Cartridges containing TheraSeed Pd-103 devices. The product is shipped non-sterile in a foil pouch, packed 50 loose spacers per pouch.

  The spacers loaded in the seeding cartridges were expired and/or the extra loose spacers were labeled with an incorrect expiration date.

• 2005-06-22TerminatedOther

  Prostate Seeding Needle for Use with the Mick Applicator; an 18 gauge needle, 17 cm long with a white molded plastic hub. The non-sterile prostate seeding needles were shipped in bulk for packaging, sterilization and distribution by the customers; the bulk packages were labeled as follows: a) part no. B0140268, Prostate Seeding Set, MICK, InterV - Wheeling, Wheeling, IL 60090 and b) part no. 2380US-18E-17, 18GA x 17CM MK Prostate Seeding Nee, InterV - WHeeling, WHeeling, IL 60090

  The hub of the prostate seeding needle does not release as expected from the applicator as expected during procedures.

• TerminatedOther

  I-125 CE Marked QuickLink Cartridges; Sterile; Bard Brachysource Radioactive Seeds in QuickLink Cartridges Indicated for permanent interstitial treatment of selected localized tumors such as: head and neck, lung, pancreas, and early stage prostate. Implants are indicated to treat residual tumors following completion of a course of external radiation therapy and for recurrent tumors.

  Activity and quantity of seeds sent in shipments were incorrect.

• TerminatedOther

  M-19 (Iridium 192): Source Production and Equipment Company, St. Rose, LA. Brachytherapy source.

  Radioactive source broke during use.