title: Breast cancer and pacemakers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology department, Hospital Fernandez, Santiago del Estero 1620, Lanus - Buenos Aires CP 1824, Argentina.
authors.forename: Hector Alfredo
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mazzetti
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tentori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Breast cancer; Neck pocket; Pacemaker