Eccentric pericardial effusion after radiation therapy of left breast carcinoma

Pericardial damage is one of the consequences of cardiac radiation and may lead to chronic pericarditis and/or tamponade. In three patients treated with radiation for carcinoma of the left breast, the effusions were loculated on the right side of the pericardium resulting in a peculiar cardiac silhouette. The importance of recognizing this entity and possible treatment is stressed.