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Case Reports
. 1983 Jul;148(1):257-8.
doi: 10.1148/radiology.148.1.6856846.

Pacemaker failure resulting from radiation damage

T Quertermous, M S Megahy, D S Das Gupta, M L Griem
Case Reports

Pacemaker failure resulting from radiation damage

T Quertermous et al. Radiology. 1983 Jul.

Abstract

The authors present a case of radiation-induced pacemaker failure. After 2,000 rad (20 Gy) of photon irradiation for metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma, the pulse generator circuitry failed, producing a "runaway" rhythm. This suggests that present pacemaker circuitry may be more susceptible to irradiation than previously believed, and that even modest radiation doses can induce life-threatening arrhythmias.

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