A case of premortem diagnosis of cardiac tamponade due to pericardial metastasis of rectal cancer

Oxf Med Case Reports. 2023 Apr 20;2023(4):omad039. doi: 10.1093/omcr/omad039. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer rarely develops pericardial metastasis, and it is an extremely rare case that cardiac tamponade due to the metastasis of colorectal cancer during life. Our case is of a 50-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic lower anterior resection for the rectal cancer with lung metastasis 4 years ago developed cardiac tamponade due to pericardial metastasis of rectal cancer. We performed pericardiocentesis as a temporary life-saving procedure, but pericardial fluid re-accumulated within a few days. She died 23 days after admission. When a patient with advanced colorectal cancer complains dyspnea, we should consider the pericardial metastasis, and perform the proper treatment as this case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports