Key result
Recurrent pericardial effusion mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus can mask underlying primary pericardial mesothelioma.
Why the study?
Pericardial mesothelioma is rare and little is known about its systemic manifestations, with only one prior case reported mimicking autoimmune disease.
Case Report (n=1)
Malignant mesothelioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent pericardial effusion, even when clinical presentation suggests an autoimmune etiology like lupus serositis.
First reported pericardial mesothelioma case with systemic features; hypothesis-generating and requires validation before clinical adoption.
BACKGROUND: Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm which commonly develops in the pleura of people exposed to asbestos. Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for only 0.7 % of all malignant mesotheliomas and it usually presents with pericardial effusion, mimicking serositis. To date, there are approximately 200 cases of pericardial mesothelioma described in the medical literature, and little knowledge exists about the systemic manifestations of this pathology. The first and only described case of pericardial mesothelioma with autoimmune features dates back to 1984 and, in our case report, we describe the second. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 45-year-old white woman whose pericardial mesothelioma was initially misdiagnosed as pericardial involvement of an autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus). After several relapses of pericardial effusion, a computed tomography scan and a biopsy with histological analysis were performed revealing neoplastic growth. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a rare case of pericardial mesothelioma in a patient with a clinical presentation compatible with lupus serositis. Clinicians should consider malignant mesothelioma in the differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion, especially when it is recurrent and not clearly explained by other causes. Cytological samples should always be obtained and, if imaging tools are suggestive for solid processes, histological confirmation is mandatory.
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Mensi et al. (2017) conducted a case report in Pericardial mesothelioma mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus (n=1). Pericardiectomy and chemotherapy (cisplatin and pemetrexed) was evaluated on Clinical outcome. A 45-year-old woman presented with recurrent pericardial effusion mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus and was ultimately diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, highlighting the need to consider malignancy in unexplained recurrent pericardial effusion.
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