Key result
An invasive thymoma can rarely present with a spontaneous hemorrhagic pericardial effusion complicated by cardiac tamponade, necessitating emergent pericardial drainage.
Why the study?
Pericardial effusion is an uncommon initial presentation of thymoma, and the authors describe a unique presentation with cardiac tamponade and multi-compartment fluid collections.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the rare presentation of an invasive thymoma causing a hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, necessitating emergent pericardial drainage.
Consider thymoma in unexplained hemorrhagic tamponade; case report leaves open incidence and management questions.
Thymoma is the most common neoplasm originating in the anterior mediastinum and accounts for a quarter of all mediastinal tumors. A pericardial effusion is an uncommon initial manifestation present in approximately 20% of patients. However, our patient had hemorrhagic pericardial effusions causing a cardiac tamponade with bilateral pleural effusions, nodular left pleural based masses, and ascites. In this report, we describe the unique features of our case and its management.
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Khan et al. (2019) conducted a case report in Thymoma with cardiac tamponade (n=1). Thymoma was evaluated. An invasive thymoma can rarely present with a spontaneous hemorrhagic pericardial effusion complicated by cardiac tamponade, necessitating emergent pericardial drainage.
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