Pacemaker failure associated with therapeutic radiation.
A 48-year-old white man with a multiprogrammable Intramedics 259-01 pacemaker was treated for inoperable lung cancer with a course of cobalt-60 radiotherapy (total 3,500 rad). Several weeks subsequent to his last radiation treatment, the patient presented to the emergency department with chest and abdominal pain, shortness of breath, hypotension, and tachycardia. A paced tachycardia was noted, and application of a magnet over the pacemaker completely inhibited its function, allowing a normal sinus rhythm to ensue and the patient's symptoms to be relieved. Pacemaker failure probably was a complication of radiotherapy.
Brooks
C
C
University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville.
Mutter
M
M
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology*
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes