Systemic chemotherapy in combination with pericardial window has better outcomes in malignant pericardial effusions.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to compare systemic chemotherapy (CT) with drainage and with pericardial window in the treatment of neoplastic pericarditis in patients with various malignancies included in the International Neoplastic Pericarditis Treatment study.


METHODS
Patients treated with systemic CT alone (Group A), CT plus drainage (Group B), or CT plus pericardial window (Group C) were included. Treatment response was defined as complete response (ie, no more pericardial effusion or masses), partial response (ie, reduced total score, without requiring further treatments), stable disease (ie, unchanged total score), or progressive disease (ie, increased total score). Patients with partial or complete response were considered responders.


RESULTS
This preliminary report included 175 patients (56.6% male) with a mean age of 54.21±14.26 years. Gender distribution, age, and follow-up duration was similar for all groups (P>.05). Prevalent cancer types were lung cancer (50.9%), breast cancer (14.9%), and lymphoma/leukemia (14.9%). Overall, 22.3%, 42.9%, and 34.9% of patients were in treatment group A, B, and C, respectively. There were 132 responders (75.3%). The rate of responders significantly differed between groups (P<.001); it was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (P<.05) and in Group C than in Group B (P=.006). The significant factors affecting response were therapy (P=.002) and extent of effusion (P=.037). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients in Group C had a significantly better survival rate than patients in the other groups (P=.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic CT plus pericardial window is a more effective treatment option compared with systemic CT alone and systemic CT plus drainage in patients with malignant effusions.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: siyamie@gmail.com.
Sezai
S
Çelik
Cardiology Unit, Department of Oncology Centro di Riferimento Oncologica National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
Chiara
C
Lestuzzi
Department of Cardiology, ARC, S Maria Degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
Eugenio
E
Cervesato
Department of Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Charleroi, Montigny le Tielleuil, Belgium.
Didier
D
Dequanter
Department of Cardiology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Piotti
Department of Cardiology, AOU S Maria Della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
Marzia
M
De Biasio
Department of Cardiology, Maria Vittoria Hospital, Turin, Italy.
Massimo
M
Imazio
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D004322:Drainage; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents