Case Report: A crushing sensation-a rare case of mediastinal germ cell tumor causing cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade often presents as external compression of the heart by pericardial fluid, leading to hemodynamic instability, but it can rarely be caused by compression by a solid mass. In this report, we present a case of tamponade-like physiology resulting from a large mediastinal tumor. This is an unusual phenomenon that is rarely described in the literature, and its optimal management remains controversial. This report reviews the clinical considerations for this rare pathophysiology; definitive therapy requires the involvement of a multidisciplinary approach for hemodynamic optimization and mass removal.