Cardiac tamponade from a giant thymoma: case report

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012 Feb 6:7:14. doi: 10.1186/1749-8090-7-14.

Abstract

Thymoma, the most common neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum especially in adults, accounts for 20-25% of all mediastinal tumors and 50% of anterior mediastinal masses. These tumors are routinely asymptomatic for prolonged periods of time. Pericardial tamponade is a very rare initial manifestation of a thymoma. This report presents a patient who had hemorrhagic pericardial tamponade that likely resulted from the largest symptomatic mixed type (type AB) thymoma described in the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Thymoma / complications*
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology