Background: This report presents a rare patient with cardiac tamponade as the first manifestation of primary gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.
Case report: A 56-year-old woman with emergent dyspnea, anterior chest oppression, and hypotension was diagnosed as having cardiac tamponade due to massive pericardial effusion. The endoscopic examination of the stomach disclosed gastric cancer in the posterior wall of the antrum and the biopsy showed signet-ring cell carcinoma. The gastric cancer was complicated by malignant pericardial effusion and pleural effusion as well as metastasis to the peripheral lymph nodes and bones. The patient was treated with percutaneous pericardiocentesis followed by systemic chemotherapy (oxaliplatin and sequential 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin). The pericardial effusion gradually disappeared and there was no cardiac tamponade occurrence. The patient has survived more than 6 months so far.
Conclusions: Cardiac tamponade may originate from a primary gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma. Pericardiocentesis followed by systemic chemotherapy may be effective in controlling such advanced gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.