Abstract
Malignant pericardial effusion is a frequent complication in primary mediastinal and pleural malignancies. As a first manifestation of a malignant tumour, however, it is rare. With cardiac tamponade the likelihood of malignancy increases. We report a life-threatening cardiac tamponade as the primary clinical presentation of a pericardial mesothelioma. Pericardiocentesis resolved the acute symptoms, followed by surgical pericardial fenestration. Oncologic therapy is evidently indicated. All mesotheliomas carry a poor prognosis.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Cardiac Surgical Procedures
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Cardiac Tamponade / diagnosis
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Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
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Cardiac Tamponade / surgery
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Echocardiography
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Electrocardiography
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Mediastinal Neoplasms / complications*
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Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnosis
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Mediastinal Neoplasms / surgery
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Mesothelioma / complications*
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Mesothelioma / diagnosis
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Mesothelioma / surgery
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Pericardial Effusion / complications*
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Pericardial Effusion / diagnosis
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Pericardial Effusion / surgery
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Positron-Emission Tomography
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed