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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement from Autologous Pericardium with a Self-Expandable Nitinol Stent in an Adult Sheep Model
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A peculiar presentation of tamponade: pericardial mesothelioma

Syed Danial Syed Ahmad1, Frazer Kirk1, Wisalya Wijesinghe2

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Level 4, D Block, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Gold Coast 4215, Australia.

Journal of Surgical Case Reports
|May 7, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Pericardial mesothelioma (PM) is a rare cancer, often incidentally found in older adults. Diagnosis is challenging, with limited understanding of its causes and no standard treatment approach.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cardiovascular Pathology

Background:

  • Pericardial mesothelioma (PM) is an exceptionally rare malignancy, with fewer than 200 documented cases.
  • It ranks as the third most frequent tumor of the heart or pericardium, following angiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Observation:

  • PM typically affects individuals aged 50-70, showing a 3:1 male predominance, and is often discovered incidentally.
  • Symptoms may include chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and dysphagia, but diagnosis is frequently delayed, with only 25% identified before death.
  • The association with asbestos exposure is less pronounced than in pleural mesothelioma, with only 20% of cases reporting known exposure.

Findings:

  • Histologically, PM presents in three forms: epithelioid, fibrous (spindle cell), and biphasic (mixed).
  • The average survival post-diagnosis is a mere 3-10 months.
  • Management protocols are not standardized due to rarity and varied presentations; diagnostic imaging and laboratory findings are infrequently detailed.

Implications:

  • The rarity and heterogeneous presentation of PM necessitate further research into standardized diagnostic and management strategies.
  • Understanding the etiology and improving early detection are crucial for potentially improving patient outcomes.
  • Case studies, like the one presented, are vital for advancing knowledge on this rare cardiac tumor.
Keywords:
mesotheliomapericardial diseasepericardial mesotheliomapericardial tamponaderare cardiac caserare cardiac diseasesurgical dilemma

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