Primary malignant mesothelioma of the pericardium

Abstract

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare tumor. One of the largest autopsy series gave an incidence of primary pericardial tumors of 0.0022%, of which mesothelioma is the most common type. A male predominance of the disease has been described, and the majority of cases occur in the fourth to seventh decades of life. Unlike peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma, there has been no definite correlation between asbestos exposure and pericardial disease. Malignant pericardial mesothelioma carries a poor prognosis with few successful treatment strategies and little benefit from radiation and chemotherapy. We report a case of a 66-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath, right shoulder pain, and peripheral edema of the lower limbs. A large pericardial effusion was seen on echocardiography, which was drained but the patient died the following day. A malignant tumor was found on autopsy and a final diagnosis of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma was made following histopathological examination.