title: Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma presenting as effusive-constrictive pericarditis.
abstract: Effusive-constrictive pericarditis is a clinical hemodynamic syndrome characterized by constriction of the heart by the visceral pericardium in the presence of a tense pericardial effusion. The hallmark of effusive-constrictive pericarditis is the persistence of elevated right atrial pressures and ventricular interdependence after relief of the elevated intrapericardial pressures. The present report discusses the unique case of a 46-year-old white female who presented with dyspnea on exertion and chest tightness in the setting of an effusive-constrictive pericarditis. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma, an extremely rare neoplasm with a very poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Englewood Hospital Medical Center, Englewood, New Jersey USA. psharma.doc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Parikshit S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katechis
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed