Malignancies masquerading as device pocket infections

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as implantable cardioverter-defibrillator pocket swelling: A case report

“…CIED pocket malignancy may be initially misdiagnosed as infection. 8 Atypical cases of CIED pocket swelling should prompt biopsy for pathologic diagnosis. Noninfectious etiologies require high clinical suspicion and should be on the differential diagnosis for CIED pocket swelling.…”

A cutaneous lesion mimicking pacemaker infection

“…This variable clinical setting can sometimes make the correct diagnosis difficult because other skin disorders can mimic a CIED infection. The differential diagnosis of CIED infections is: fluid collections (hematoma, pseudochyliform fluid), superficial infections (herpes zoster, cellulitis), allergic contact dermatitis, benign tumors (lipoma), and malignancies 1–3 . As far as we know, EIC mimicking a pacemaker‐related infection has not been reported previously.…”

“…The differential diagnosis of CIED infections is: fluid collections (hematoma, pseudochyliform fluid), superficial infections (herpes zoster, cellulitis), allergic contact dermatitis, benign tumors (lipoma), and malignancies. 1 , 2 , 3 As far as we know, EIC mimicking a pacemaker‐related infection has not been reported previously. EIC is an extremely rare condition that occurs secondary to implantation and proliferation of epidermal cells into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue because of injury such as surgery, puncture and trauma.…”

Malignant Neoplasms Arising in the Cardiac Pacemaker Cavity: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 22 selected studies, 6 were carried out in the United States of America (USA): Hamaker et al [24]; Herrmann, Mishra, and Greenway [25]; Magilligan and Isshak [26]; Moseley et al [19]; Reyes [27]; and Zarifi et al [28]. Fourteen were carried out in Europe: 1 in Portugal [29], 2 in Spain [30,31], 2 in the United Kingdom [32,33], 1 in Norway [34], 2 in Italy [35,36], 1 in Germany [37], 1 in Greece [38], 1 in Austria [39], 1 in Slovakia [40], 1 in the Netherlands [41], and 1 in Switzerland [42].…”

“…Although pacemaker implantation is safe, complications such as bleeding, infection, pain, and inflammation at the incision site are present in a reduced proportion of insertion procedures [18]. In rare cases, the development of malignant neoplasms around the pacemaker tissue adjacent to the pacemaker has also been described [19].…”