Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Minimal Invasive Resection of Large Retrosternal Thyroid Goiter
Published on: September 20, 2024
Post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis following thymoma treatment: a report of two cases
Yu Hikosaka1, Motoki Yano, Shinya Otsuka
1Department of Oncology, Immunology and Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8602, Japan.
Whole pericardial irradiation may be performed for mediastinal malignancies with pericardial dissemination or malignant pericardial effusion. Case 1 is a 57-year-old woman with a B1 thymoma, Masaoka stage IVa. She underwent whole pericardial irradiation and suffered post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis 3 years later. Diuresis, catecholamine infusions, drainage, and pericardiectomy were performed. However, she died of heart failure after 4 years and 1 month due to constrictive pericarditis. Case 2 is a 56-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis and a B2 thymoma, Masaoka stage III. She underwent an extended thymectomy with partial resection of the lung and pericardium and received adjuvant radiation therapy of the whole pericardium. She was affected by post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis 7 months later, for which she underwent pericardiectomy. However, her constrictive pericarditis remained. In conclusion, we report two advanced thymoma cases with post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis. Indicators for whole pericardial irradiation should be determined strictly and carefully.
Whole pericardial irradiation may be performed for mediastinal malignancies with pericardial dissemination or malignant pericardial effusion. Case 1 is a 57-year-old woman with a B1 thymoma, Masaoka stage IVa. She underwent whole pericardial irradiation and suffered post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis 3 years later. Diuresis, catecholamine infusions, drainage, and pericardiectomy were performed. However, she died of heart failure after 4 years and 1 month due to constrictive pericarditis. Case 2 is a 56-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis and a B2 thymoma, Masaoka stage III. She underwent an extended thymectomy with partial resection of the lung and pericardium and received adjuvant radiation therapy of the whole pericardium. She was affected by post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis 7 months later, for which she underwent pericardiectomy. However, her constrictive pericarditis remained. In conclusion, we report two advanced thymoma cases with post-irradiation constrictive pericarditis. Indicators for whole pericardial irradiation should be determined strictly and carefully.
Related Concept Videos
Pericarditis III: Medical Management
Pericarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Pericarditis I: Introduction
Pericarditis IV: Nursing Management
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
