Ultrasound guided pericardial drainage and intrapericardial instillation of mitomycin C for malignant pericardial effusion.
BACKGROUND
Conservative treatment of malignant pericardial effusion by intrapericardial instillation of a sclerosing agent may be an alternative to surgery.


METHODS
Twenty patients with malignant pericardial effusion were treated by ultrasound guided pericardiocentesis and the intrapericardial instillation of mitomycin C.


RESULTS
Mitomycin C was effective in controlling the pericardial effusion in 70% of patients without causing side effects, except for pericardial constriction seven months later in one subject.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound guided intrapericardial instillation of mitomycin C is a suitable alternative in the management of malignant pericardial effusion.
Department of Clinical Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
L N
LN
Lee
P C
PC
Yang
D B
DB
Chang
C J
CJ
Yu
J C
JC
Ko
Y S
YS
Liaw
R G
RG
Wu
K T
KT
Luh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D016685:Mitomycin