Development of carcinoma of the breast at the site of an implanted pacemaker in two patients

We report here on two female patients who had permanent pacemakers implanted in their chests and who developed carcinoma of the breast subsequently. An association is suspected between the breast cancer and the pacemaker, which is implanted in an area which borders with the mammary gland or is even right within it. This suspicion led us lately to change in female patients the site of the subcutaneous pocket for the implantation of the pacemaker to a position higher in the chest than before. Moreover, we advocate frequent breast examinations in all female patients with implanted pacemakers.