A case of malignant pericardial mesothelioma misdiagnosed as tuberculosis pericarditis.
- Author:
Iksung CHO
1
;
Eun Ju CHUN
;
Ki Hyun JEON
;
Woo Hyun LIM
;
Kyoung Hee KIM
;
Si Hyuck KANG
;
Hyuk Jae CHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. hjchang@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Mesothelioma;
Pericardial effusion;
Tuberculous pericarditis
- MeSH:
Adult;
Biopsy;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Dyspnea;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Mesothelioma;
Pericardial Effusion;
Pericardiectomy;
Pericarditis;
Pericarditis, Constrictive;
Pericarditis, Tuberculous;
Prognosis;
Thorax;
Tuberculosis
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2009;76(Suppl 1):S81-S86
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Primary pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare neoplasm with a bleak prognosis. It is often misdiagnosed as constrictive pericarditis initially, especially as tuberculosis pericarditis in Korea due to the high incidence of active tuberculosis. A targeted pericardial biopsy and noninvasive imaging modalities, such as delayed phase contrast chest computed tomography (CT) images and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can play an important role in the differential diagnosis of pericardial disease. We present the case of a 37-year-old man with a 3-week history of exertional dyspnea. A large pericardial effusion with pericardial thickening was noted, but its etiology was not revealed after conventional diagnostic procedures, including a closed pericardial biopsy. Empirical antituberculosis treatment was started, but the dyspnea recurred 5 months later. A malignant pericardial mesothelioma was diagnosed through a pericardiectomy and biopsy under direct visualization
