title: Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma presenting as acute pericarditis.
abstract: We report on a 21-year-old man with fever, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. An electrocardiography showed ST elevation in multiple lead and thoracic echocardiography revealed moderate pericardial effusion. He was initially diagnosed with acute pericarditis, and treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicines with clinical and laboratory improvement. After 1 month of medication, his symptoms recurred. An echocardiography showed constrictive physiology and the patient was treated with steroid on the top of current medication. The patient had been well for 7 months until dyspnea and edema developed, when an echocardiography showed marked increased pericardial thickness and constriction. Pericardial biopsy was performed and primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma was diagnosed. Malignancy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent pericarditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Moon-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Ji-Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yun-Gi
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Chang
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ju-Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soryung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seung-Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Goo-Yeong
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Cho