• Emily E Petersen, Alireza A Shamshirsaz, Theresa M Brennan, Elaine M Demetroulis, and Michael J Goodheart.
• University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
• Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 2009 Oct 1;280(4):675-8.

BackgroundMalignant pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade is an uncommon metastatic manifestation of gynecologic cancers. We describe a patient with ovarian cancer who developed pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade and was successfully treated with pericardiocentesis and intrapericardial instillation of thiotepa.CaseA 52-year-old woman with stage IV ovarian adenocarcinoma presented with worsening cough, dyspnea, and fatigue. Chest X-ray and echocardiogram confirmed the presence of pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade. Pericardial fluid cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. Treatment consisted of pericardiocentesis with thiotepa sclerotherapy. She survived 12 months post-therapy without recurrent pericardial tamponade.ConclusionPatients with gynecologic cancers may develop a pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade. Malignant pericardial effusion should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who present with cardiac tamponade.

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