Eccentric pericardial effusion after radiation therapy of left breast carcinoma.
Pericardial damage is one of the consequences of cardiac radiation and may lead to chronic pericarditis and/or tamponade. In three patients treated with radiation for carcinoma of the left breast, the effusions were loculated on the right side of the pericardium resulting in a peculiar cardiac silhouette. The importance of recognizing this entity and possible treatment is stressed.
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*