Pericardial exudates caused by extracardial malignant disease
Karkov, J.; Sprøgel, P.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 150(45): 2741-2743
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3206674 Document Number: 308520
A review of pericardial exudates from 40 patients revealed malignant cells in 12 patients on cytological examination. In five of these patients, no malignant disease had been recognized in advance. The following preliminary diagnoses had been made: pneumonia in three patients, observation for acute myocardial infarction and cardia failure. The average age was 51 years and the average duration of survival after pericardial aspiration was 55 days. Subsequent investigation or autopsy revealed that all five patients had metastastizing carcinomata. It is concluded that patients with pericardial exudants of unknown etiology should be suspected of having malignant disease and the exudate withdrawn should be examined cytologically.