title: Iatrogenic cardiac perforation due to pacing lead displacement: Imaging findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac perforations due to pacing and implantable defibrillator lead displacement are rare and their detection may be difficult. The goal of this study was to review the clinical and imaging presentation of cardiac perforation related to pacing lead displacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and imaging files of four patients (two men and two women) who experienced cardiac perforation related to pacing lead displacement were reviewed. The four patients were investigated in our radiology department over a 24-month-period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients had clinical symptoms at the time lead displacement was detected and the other two were free of symptoms. In all patients, lead displacement was visible on imaging examinations in retrospect but was not detected prospectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiologists should pay attention to the position of the tips of the leads on chest X-ray and CT, even late after the implantation and in asymptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cardio-thoracic imaging unit, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: thomas.kirchgesner@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirchgesner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cardio-thoracic imaging unit, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchandise
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Le Polain de Waroux
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Cardio-thoracic imaging unit, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiac; Computed tomography; Defibrillator; Pacemaker; Perforation