Primary pericardial mesothelioma presenting as pericardial constriction: a case report

Heart. 2004 Jan;90(1):e4. doi: 10.1136/heart.90.1.e4.

Abstract

A 19 year old man presented with a six month history of chest pain, dyspnoea, and lethargy and was found on an echocardiogram to have a dilated left ventricle with a small pericardial effusion. Ramipril and a course of steroids were tried but serial echocardiograms showed a persistently thickened pericardium and slowly developing features of constriction. On computed tomography, a large mediastinal mass encasing the heart, along with para-aortic and paratracheal lymphadenopathy, was found. Right heart catheter studies showed equal pressures in all four chambers. His deteriorating clinical condition led to a pericardiectomy. Histology confirmed primary pericardial mesothelioma. The patient died soon after surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Mesothelioma / complications*
  • Mesothelioma / surgery
  • Pericarditis, Constrictive / etiology*
  • Pericarditis, Constrictive / surgery
  • Pericardium*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed