How can the integrity of sources used in remote after-loading equipment be checked?

The integrity of sources used in remote afterloading equipment is primarily checked by wiping the inside of the catheters with tissue paper dipped in alcohol. This method is effective because it helps to detect any dislodged radioactive material that may not be visible through visual inspection alone. The alcohol on the tissue acts as a solvent, allowing any contamination to be absorbed, and it can be further analyzed to ensure that there is no leakage of radioactivity from the source.

Other methods, such as visual inspection, are important but do not guarantee that the source is functioning properly or that there are no issues within the catheters. Measuring the source's output can provide data about radioactivity levels, but may not necessarily indicate physical integrity or contamination. Changing the source container is a different procedure that does not directly test the integrity of the sources themselves. Therefore, wiping with tissue paper in an alcohol solution is the most reliable approach for checking the integrity of sources in remote afterloading systems.