Why the study?
The concurrent presentation of pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion as complications of malignancy is rare and poses a clinical dilemma regarding treatment, including anticoagulant therapy.
Does low-molecular-weight heparin and pericardiocentesis improve outcomes in a patient with simultaneous pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion as complications of cancer?
Does low-molecular-weight heparin and pericardiocentesis improve outcomes in a patient with simultaneous pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion as complications of cancer?
Anticoagulation therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin alongside pericardiocentesis can be a safe and effective treatment for the rare simultaneous presentation of pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion in cancer patients.
Summary We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who was admitted to Vilnius University Hospital Santaros klinikos suffering from week-long shortness of breath during minimal physical activity. Computed tomography angiography and echocardiogram findings led to a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and large pericardial effusion. The patient was previously diagnosed with a base of tongue cancer with lung metastasis. The patient received low-molecular-weight-heparin, and pericardiocentesis was performed. As a result, the patient’s general condition improved, and she was discharged from the hospital. In this case, pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion coincided as complications of malignancy. The concurrent presentation of these conditions is rare and poses a clinical dilemma regarding the treatment, including anticoagulant therapy.
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Greta Burneikaitė (2023) studied this question.
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