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A rare case of skin cancer above a subcutaneously implanted pacemaker: implications for future implants
Fritz Mellert1, Wolfgang Schiller, Aylin Yueruektuemen
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. fritz.mellert@uni-bonn.de
Background:
The occurrence of a skin neoplasm close to the position of an implanted pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator device is not very common.
Case Report:
We report on an 82-year-old patient who developed a basal cell carcinoma in the skin directly above a subcutaneously implanted pacemaker generator. The patient presented with a history of recurrent basalioma at various locations. The pacemaker (Kappa KDR 731; Medtronic) was implanted 17 months before and represented a series that was recalled because of problems occurring after submuscular implantation.
Conclusion:
Primary submuscular implantation of pacemaker devices should be carefully considered in elderly patients with a history of previous skin tumors.
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