Key result
High-energy photon radiotherapy caused software malfunctions in 52% of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and 18% of pacemakers due to scattered neutron radiation.
Why the study?
Does high-energy radiotherapy cause malfunctions in cardiac implantable electronic devices without direct exposure to ionizing radiation?
Population
59 explanted cardiac implantable electronical devices, comprising 34 pacemakers and 25 implantable…
Comparison
High-energy photon radiotherapy course for… vs Baseline (devices interrogated before radiation)
Design
Preclinical
Authors
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Raises concern for CIED malfunctions from neutron scatter in radiotherapy; leaves open human validation and mitigation strategies.
Does high-energy radiotherapy cause malfunctions in cardiac implantable electronic devices without direct exposure to ionizing radiation?
High-energy radiotherapy can cause software malfunctions in CIEDs, particularly ICDs, due to scattered neutrons even without direct exposure to ionizing radiation.
Zecchin et al. (2015) studied Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) malfunction (n=59). High-energy photon (15 MV) radiotherapy vs. Baseline (before radiation) was evaluated on Software malfunction. High-energy photon radiotherapy caused software malfunctions in 52% of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and 18% of pacemakers due to scattered neutron radiation.
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