Case report: Acute pericarditis following hepatic microwave ablation for liver metastasis

Anna Giulia Pavon; Vladimir Rubimbura; Anna Nowacka; Arnaud Hocquelet; Jurg Schwitter; David C Rotzinger

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1100916

Case report: Acute pericarditis following hepatic microwave ablation for liver metastasis

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 May 19:10:1100916. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1100916. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Anna Giulia Pavon^{1

2}, Vladimir Rubimbura², Anna Nowacka³, Arnaud Hocquelet⁴, Jurg Schwitter^{1

2}, David C Rotzinger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
² Cardiology Division, Heart & Vessels Department, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
³ Cardio Surgery Department, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Division, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Abstract

Hepatic microwave ablation (MWA) is a growing treatment modality in the field of primary and secondary liver cancer. One potential side effect is thermal damage to adjacent structures, including the pericardium if the hepatic lesion is located near the diaphragm. Hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade is known to be a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. Here we present the first case of cardiac complication following MWA treatment in a 55-year-old man who presented with late cardiac tamponade. Adequate and timely management is essential, and clinicians should be fully aware of the need to perform early transthoracic echocardiography to detect signs of pericardial effusion when cardiac involvement is suspected.

Keywords: cardia tamponade; cardiovascular magnetic resonance; metastasis; microwave ablation (MW ablation); pericarditis.

Publication types

Case Reports