Abstract
We studied the clinical course and management of 27 patients with malignant pericardial tamponade seen in a single Medical Center over a 10 year period. Patients treated with repeat pericardial tap as their only mode of therapy had a high rate of recurrent tamponade (6 of 13 subjects) whereas most patients treated with drainage (either surgical or percutaneous) had sustained control of their pericardial effusion (achieved in 10/13 subjects). Intra‐pericardial instillation of tetracycline or cyclophosphamide did not clearly improve the good results obtained with drainage alone. Extensive pericardiectomy was required in 2 patients only. Irrespective of the mode of therapy, survival was poor in patients with carcinoma of lung (N = 10) with a median survival of 30 days only vs. 135 days for patients with breast carcinoma (N = 10). Patients with malignant pericardial tamponade are best treated with immediate drainage. Percutaneous and sub‐xiphoid surgical drainage are equally effective. Despite invasion of the pericardium by carcinoma, patients with a good oncologic prognosis may enjoy an appreciable survival with adequate quality of life following relief of tamponade.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 287-291 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Medical and Pediatric Oncology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1990 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- carcinoma
- pericardium
- tamponade
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Oncology
- Cancer Research