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Published on: June 10, 2017
Primary Cardiac B-Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Disguised as a Pacemaker Endocarditis
Felix Fleißner1,2, Ulrich Molitoris1, Wiebke Rösler3
1Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Insights
Pacemaker infections are common, but this case highlights a rare primary cardiac B cell lymphoma mimicking pacemaker endocarditis. Surgical removal led to a good clinical outcome, emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pacemaker infections present similarly to rare primary cardiac tumors.
- Distinguishing between infection and malignancy is diagnostically challenging.
Observation:
- A patient presented with suspected pacemaker endocarditis.
- Preoperative diagnostics were suboptimal, leading to an initial misdiagnosis.
Findings:
- The suspected endocarditis was a primary cardiac B cell lymphoma.
- Surgical resection of the lymphoma was successful.
Implications:
- Accurate preoperative diagnostics are crucial for differentiating pacemaker infections from cardiac tumors.
- Primary cardiac tumors, even when mimicking infections, can be surgically resected with favorable long-term survival.
Abstract:
Background Pacemaker infections rates are high compared with the incidence of primary malignant cardiac tumors. However, they can look alike in diagnostics and patient presentation. Case Description We hereby report a rare case of a suspected pacemaker endocarditis which in fact turned out to be a primary cardiac B cell lymphoma. The lymphoma was removed surgically. Conclusion Sometimes we encounter the unexpected. Suboptimal preoperative diagnostics certainly lead to the faulty conclusion of an endocarditis. Nonetheless, even such an enhanced primary cardiac tumor can be resected with good clinical outcome and long-term survival.
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