title: The dancing heart.
abstract: A woman with palliative breast cancer presents with dyspnoea and is noted to have an unusual electrocardiogram, with an alternating electrical axis observed. Subsequent echocardiogram demonstrates the classical findings of a large pericardial effusion causing 'electrical alternans' aptly illustrating why this rare phenomenon occurs.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Division, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Division, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Turley
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Division, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK Robert.Wright@stees.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000379:methods
keywords: Electrical alternans; echocardiography; pericardial effusion