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Clin. Cardiol. 24, 485486 (2001)
Umesh C. Jairath, M.D., Joseph R. Benotti, M.D.,* David H. Spodick, M.D., D.Sc.*
Saint Vincent Hospital; *University of Massachusetts Medical School, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Summary: This report describes a patient admitted with shortness of breath due to cardiac tamponade, which masked concomitant pulmonary embolism that was diagnosed only after right heart pressures failed to decrease after successful pericardiocentesis. The patient was found to have widely metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon (with metastases to pericardium) and a paraneoplastic syndrome of deep vein thrombosis.
Key words: cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolism, pericardiocentesis, malignancy
Address for reprints:
David H. Spodick, M.D., D.Sc.
Professor of Medicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Director of Cardiology Fellowship
Saint Vincent Hospital
Worcester, MA 01604, USA
Received: September 27, 1999
Accepted: December 9, 1999