Breast cancer and pacemakers

AIMS: The combination of breast cancer and the need for a pacemaker is infrequent, and device implantation under these circumstances may be a technical challenge with several treatment options, most of them complex. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight patients, all women, with an average age of 69.62 ± 11.4 years. We present a technique for patients with bilateral breast cancer who need a pacemaker or those who had already implanted a device and developed a homolateral breast cancer. All the pacemakers were implanted in a neck pocket, as a first implantation or if they were moved from a prepectoral pocket to the neck. Seven patients had a good outcome and one had an infection. CONCLUSION: We suggest a simple alternative to lead extraction or epicardial approach in patients with coexisting breast cancer and the need for a rhythm control device consisting in placing the device in a neck pocket and preserving the existing leads by tunnelling them either above or below the clavicle.