Background: Antemortem discovery of a malignant pericardial effusion secondary to cervical cancer is uncommon and management should focus on symptom control.
Case: A patient was diagnosed with widely metastatic cervical cancer following a simple hysterectomy for presumed benign etiology. Sixteen months later, she was diagnosed with pericardial tumor involvement and a malignant pericardial effusion resulting in severe dyspnea. The patient underwent a pericardial window procedure that temporarily alleviated her symptoms. She again developed symptoms 2 weeks following the procedure and ultimately elected supportive care.
Conclusion: Malignant pericardial effusion is a challenging clinical scenario. Although multiple treatment options exist, prognosis is poor and usually limited.
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