Managing malignant pericardial effusion

The involvement of the pericardium by metastatic tumors is not uncommon, particularly in patients with lung cancer, breast cancer, lymphomas, leukemias, and melanomas. There are five therapeutic modalities for the treatment of malignant pericardial effusion, including pericardiocentesis, pericardial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Western journal of medicine 1989-02, Vol.150 (2), p.174-179
Main Authors: Buzaid, A C, Garewal, H S, Greenberg, B R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Combined Modality Therapy
Heart Neoplasms - complications
Heart Neoplasms - secondary
Humans
Palliative Care
Pericardial Effusion - etiology
Pericardial Effusion - therapy
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The involvement of the pericardium by metastatic tumors is not uncommon, particularly in patients with lung cancer, breast cancer, lymphomas, leukemias, and melanomas. There are five therapeutic modalities for the treatment of malignant pericardial effusion, including pericardiocentesis, pericardial sclerosis, systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical treatment. The optimal treatment selection is dependent principally on a patient's life expectancy; responsiveness of the tumor to chemotherapy, irradiation, or both; and whether or not cardiac tamponade is present at diagnosis. The overall prognosis of patients with malignant pericardial effusion is primarily influenced by the extent and histologic features of the underlying cancer. Although this condition is usually incurable, a reasonable period of useful palliation can be obtained in most patients. Images
ISSN:0093-0415
1476-2978