title: [Cardiac tamponade as the first symptom of lung cancer].
abstract: Pericardial effusion is a relatively common clinical problem. It is, however, rarely the first symptom of cancer. Cardiac tamponade  testifies to an advanced stage of cancer and is a negative prognostic factor. This paper presents a patient in whom  cardiac tamponade was the first symptom of lung cancer. A 63-year-old male, habitual smoker, was admitted to hospital  due to progressive symptoms of exertional dyspnoea lasting for a few days and chest pain. Echocardiographic examination  revealed a large amount of fluid in the pericardium with echocardiographic signs of a life-threatening cardiac tamponade. The  patient underwent pericardial puncture and additional imaging examinations. Lung adenocarcinoma was recognized as the  underlying disease. Due to the recurrence of the life-threatening cardiac tamponade, video-assisted thoracoscopic pericardial  fenestration was performed and systemic chemotherapy was introduced with good results.
authors: Klinika Chorób Wewnętrznych, Gastroenterologii i Hepatologii, Szpital Uniwersytecki Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie, ul. Al. Warszawska 30, Olsztyn. lgol@op.pl
authors: Leszek
authors: L
authors: Gromadziński
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Przelaskowski
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Januszko-Giergielewicz
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Górny
authors: Aleksander
authors: A
authors: Stankiewicz
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Każarnowicz
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Pruszczyk
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography