BACKGROUND Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm which commonly develops in the pleura of people exposed to asbestos. Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for only 0.7 % of all malignant mesotheliomas and it usually presents with pericardial effusion, mimicking serositis. To date, there are approximately 200 cases of pericardial mesothelioma described in the medical literature, and little knowledge exis...

Of 60 cases with pericardial metastatic disease, 26 had significant effects on the cardiovascular system. Pericardial metastases were suspected in 18 of these cases before death. The most common features reported were dyspnea on exertion and pleural effusion. While these were nonspecific for circulatory disturbance, ECG features of ST-T changes and low voltage QRS complexes were helpful in susp...

A case of pericardial actinomycosis mimicking a pericardial tumour is reported. After the appearance of non-specific subpleural pulmonary nodules, a 48 year old woman presented with fever and clinical signs of pericardial tamponade. Subxiphoid pericardiotomy yielded a culture negative fluid and inflammatory reactive histopathology in the pericardial biopsy specimen. Because of suspected infecti...

Although cryoglobulinemia is a well-appreciated complication of hepatitis C (HC), myopericarditis with resulting pericardial effusion is extremely rare, especially in the absence of a liver transplant. In patients with HC, pericardial effusion with impending tamponade can be a florid and potentially life-threatening manifestation of multiorgan cryoglobulinemic disease.

This is the first reported case of fetal pericardial effusion in association with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and hypocortisolism from a nonautoimmune cause. Our hypothesis is that in experienced hands and after accurate genetic counseling, isolated pericardial effusion can constitute an indication for a severe metabolic disease.

A patient with malignant pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade was treated by the instillation of intrapericardial bleomycin. The tumour deposits elsewhere in the body continued to progress and eventually killed the patient, but drainage and one dose of intrapericardial bleomycin prevented further episodes of pericardial effusion.

A 44 year old lady with primary hypothyroidism presented with massive pericardial effusion without cardiac tamponade. Pericardial tap was done twice and the effusion resolved as the hypothyroid state improved. She remained hypertensive despite the euthyroid state. She was discharged well with L-thyroxine and anti-hypertensive therapy.

Letter by Kern Regarding Article, “High-Pressure Loculated Pericardial Effusion in Postpericardiotomy Syndrome” To the Editor: Drs Syros and Maysky1 present a remarkable case of pericardial effusion due to post pericardiotomy syndrome in an 81-year-old man. I am confused about the hemodynamics displayed in Figure 2, which shows a pericardial pressure that appears to be exactly like that of a ri...

INTRODUCTION Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is an indolent disease that often presents with complaints of lymphadenopathy or is detected as an incidental laboratory finding. It is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with tamponade or a large, bloody pericardial effusion. In patients without known cancer, a large, bloody pericardial effusion raises the possibilit...

Cardiac rupture is defined as a full-thickness myocardial tear; this injury after blunt chest trauma is rare, and is associated with high mortality. Blunt cardiac rupture typically presents with either cardiac tamponade or massive hemothorax, and is often unrecognized in the context of blunt chest trauma. It is a little known fact that pericardial effusions can decrease due to pericardial lacer...