Cancer patients with cardiac pacemakers needing radiation treatment: a systematic review

With improving average life expectancy of individuals in most countries, there has been increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Radiation oncologists therefore are likely to encounter an increasing number of cancer patients with in situ cardiac pacemaker devices needing radiation treatments. Pacemaker technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. As a result, the potential interactions of these devices with radiation therapy have changed since American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) issued guidelines 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. Common knowledge about pacemaker in radiation oncology community is vital as radiation management needs to be tailored to individual patients in accordance to the information of available for the device. Some general practical guidelines can be gleaned from the literature. It is felt that more robust information is required using web based database sharing to develop total safe practice guidelines in such patients. This article reviews the information available to help create such guidelines and presents recommendations for treatment in this increasingly common clinical situation.