MANAGEMENT OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY PATIENTS WITH IMPLANTED CARDIAC-PACEMAKERS - REPORT OF AAPM TASK GROUP NO-34

Citation
Jr. Marbach et al., MANAGEMENT OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY PATIENTS WITH IMPLANTED CARDIAC-PACEMAKERS - REPORT OF AAPM TASK GROUP NO-34, Medical physics, 21(1), 1994, pp. 85-90
Citations number
90
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Journal title
ISSN journal
00942405
Volume
21
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
85 - 90
Database
ISI
SICI code
0094-2405(1994)21:1<85:MOROPW>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
Contemporary cardiac pacemakers can fail from radiation damage at dose s as low as 10 gray and can exhibit functional changes at doses as low as 2 gray. A review and discussion of this potential problem is prese nted and a protocol is offered that suggests that radiation therapy pa tients with implanted pacemakers be planned so as to limit accumulated dose to the pacemaker to 2 gray. Although certain levels and types of electromagnetic interference can cause pacemaker malfunction, there i s evidence that this is not a serious problem around most contemporary radiation therapy equipment.