Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2009 | Case report
Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma - a rare cause of pericardial effusion and consecutive constrictive pericarditis: a case report
Authors:
Thomas Butz, Lothar Faber, Christoph Langer, Jan Körfer, Oliver Lindner, Andrea Tannapfel, Klaus-Michael Müller, Axel Meissner, Gunnar Plehn, Hans-Joachim Trappe, Dieter Horstkotte, Cornelia Piper
Published in:
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|
Issue 1/2009
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Abstract
Introduction
Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare pericardial tumor of unknown etiology.
Case presentation
A 61-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of exertional dyspnea due to a large pericardial effusion. Intrapericardial fluid volume declined after repeated pericardiocentesis, but the patient progressively developed a hemodynamically relevant pericardial constriction. Pericardiectomy revealed a pericardial mesothelioma. Subsequently, four cycles of chemotherapy (dosage according to recently published trials) were administered. The patient remained asymptomatic, and there was no recurrence of the tumor after three years.
Conclusion
Pericardial mesothelioma should be considered and managed appropriately in non-responders to pericardiocentesis, and in patients who develop constrictive pericarditis late in their clinical course.