title: Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma and response to radiation therapy.
abstract: We report a case of a primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma. A 59-year-old male presented with episodic chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large mass in the pericardium attached to the right ventricle. Partial resection of the mass was undertaken revealing malignant mesothelioma, byphasic type. The patient was treated with chemotherapy intermittently over a period of 3 years, but his disease continued to progress. The patient was then treated with definitive radiation therapy to 64 Gy to the primary tumor using a six field 3D conformal technique. The patient remains free of progressive disease 86 months from the time of diagnosis and 50 months from the completion of his radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Kelli A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moskaluk
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Grosh
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Read