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
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.