title: Pericardiectomy for treatment of neoplastic constrictive pericarditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To share our results of a case series of 8 patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis that developed secondary to a known neoplastic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The underlying neoplasia was lung cancer in 5 (62.5%) patients, malignant pleural mesothelioma in 2 (25%), and Hodgkin lymphoma in 1 (12.5%). A diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis was made primarily by echocardiography, and right heart catheterization was performed in 6 (75%) patients. Total pericardiectomy was defined as wide excision of the anterior pericardium. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone interview and the civil registry database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time from initial diagnosis of the neoplastic disease ranged from 1 to 15 years. Total pericardiectomy was performed in 6 (75%) patients. Histopathological examination revealed atypical cells in evacuated fluid and pericardial material in 6 patients. Nonspecific inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the other 2 cases. Hospital death occurred in 1 (12.5%) patient. Postoperative low cardiac output syndrome occurred in 7 (87.5%) patients. Follow-up ranged from 2.92 to 26.78 months. Mean survival was 14.82 ± 4.4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pericardial constriction may develop a long time after the initial presentation of certain neoplastic diseases, and the prognosis after pericardiectomy is poor.
authors.affiliation: Kartal Kosuyolu Heart and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buyukbayrak
authors.forename: Eray
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dedemoglu
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirali
authors.forename: Hizir Mete
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Alp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Heart neoplasms; constrictive; pericardial effusion; pericardiectomy; pericarditis; treatment outcome