Pericardial tamponade as the first manifestation of adenocarcinoma.
We hereby report on 13 cases of pericardial tamponade as the first manifestation of an adenocarcinoma. The primary tumor was detected in 10 cases: 7 lung, 1 stomach, 1 breast and 1 thyroid. A first cytologic examination of the pericardial fluid yielded the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in 10 cases, whereas a second cytology was needed in another two cases. The pericardial biopsy was positive in 7 out of 7 patients. The therapeutic procedures included pericardiocentesis in 9 patients (6 of whom had recurrent tamponade), a pericardial window in 4 and pericardiotomy in 4 (without recurrences). The mean survival was 4 months.
de la Gándara
I
I
Services of Oncology, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Espinosa
E
E
Gómez Cerezo
J
J
Feliu
J
J
Garcia Girón
C
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D012008:Recurrence; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015996:Survival Rate; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications