Recurrent cervical squamous cell carcinoma presenting with cardiac tamponade. Recurrent cervical carcinoma-tamponade

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the heart, and cardiac tamponade secondary to pericardial involvement has been only rarely reported. We describe a case of recurrent cervical squamous cells carcinoma presenting with cardiac tamponade secondary to extensive pericardial metastases. The patient, a 38-year old woman, initially presented with Stage IIIB cervical squamous cell carcinoma. She responded well to radiation and chemotherapy, there was no clinical or radiographic evidence of persistent disease after the initial therapy. Sixteen months after presentation, she developed shortness of breath and chest pain. The patient received additional chemotherapy; however, she died 17 months after her initial presentation. At autopsy, metastatic keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma extensively involved the pericardium and superficial myocardium. This case illustrates the unusual occurrence of recurrent cervical squamous carcinoma presenting with cardiac dysfunction secondary to pericardial metastases.