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Radiation therapy in oncology patients who have a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, and Department of Radiation Oncology, High Point Regional Cancer Center, High Point, NC
Pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. As a result, the potential interactions of these devices with radiation therapy delivery have changed since the topic was first reviewed by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) in 1994. Current approaches to treatment in patients who have these devices vary among radiation oncology centers. Furthermore, the recommendations given by the devices’ manufacturers differ considerably. Although management should always be tailored to individual patients when detailed information about their device is available, some general practical guidelines for radiation oncology clinics can be gleaned from the literature and manufacturers’ recommendations. This article reviews the information available to help create such guidelines and presents recommendations for treatment in these unique cases.
| Commun Oncol 2009;6:469–471 | full text |  70 kb |