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

Cancers (Basel). 2023 Oct 29;15(21):5206. doi: 10.3390/cancers15215206.

Abstract

Cancer is the abnormal proliferation of physiologically inadequate cells. Studies have identified the cardiac pacemaker pocket as a site of rare neoplasms. To evaluate the clinical outcomes, treatment, prognosis, and individualized management of tumors originating in the cardiac pacemaker pocket, a systematic review was conducted using case reports and case series available in the PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Cochrane Central, LILACS, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) databases. Pacemaker pocket tumors affected patients with a mean age of 72.9 years, with a higher incidence in males (76.9%, n = 10). The average time for neoplasm development was 4.4 years (54.07 months). The most prevalent model was Medtronic (38.4%, n = 5), with titanium (83.3%) being the most common metal composition. Chemotherapy was the most performed procedure among patients (38.4%), followed by radiation therapy (38.4%) and surgical tumor resection (30.7%). Six analyzed cases (46.1%) resulted in death, and four patients (30.7%) achieved a cure. Patients with pacemakers should be routinely evaluated for the occurrence of malignant tumors at the site of device implantation.

Keywords: artificial pacemaker; malignancies; neoplasms; pacemaker complication.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal e Nível Superior (CAPES); Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas (FAPESPA); and Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA).