Malignant Pericardial Effusion Secondary to Lung Adenocarcinoma: Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant pericardial effusion is the accumulation of liquid in the pericardial space secondary to advanced stage neoplasia, becoming in an indicator of bad prognosis. Malignant tumors that are most often related to this entity are the ones from pulmonary, mammary, and hematolymphoid origin. Clinically, it may present imminent signs of cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic instability, so that it merits an early diagnosis and management with emerging decompression maneuvers. Objective: This article presents a malignant pericardial effusion case, since this clinical condition implies a diagnostic challenge. Case presentation and Conclusions: A case of a 63 year old male patient is presented. He has one month of clinical evolution characterized by cervical adenopathies, also in the past fifteen days has been presenting precocious satiety, nocturnal sweating, sensation of distended abdomen, and functional class deterioration to having dyspnea during small physical efforts. This was the reason why he went to the emergency room. During the medical observation, the patient quickly deteriorates to hemodynamic instability, refractory to treatment. Some imaging studies were performed, which show severe pericardial effusion so a decompressive pericardiocentesis and a multidisciplinary integral management were performed.