A patient with primary pericardial synovial sarcoma who presented with cardiac tamponade: a case report and review of the literature

Intern Med. 2014;53(6):595-601. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1749.

Abstract

A 36-year-old man presented with near-syncope. He was found to have massive pericardial effusion with a giant pericardial tumorous lesion. The pericardial effusion exhibited a bloody nature; however, neither malignant cells nor infectious organisms were detected. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed an increased uptake of FDG in the pericardial tumor only. Although the tumor was not resectable, thoracotomy and tissue sampling were performed. A histological analysis showed CD99 positivity and SYT gene rearrangement, leading to a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma arising from the left lateral pericardial surface. The patient is now receiving chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Echocardiography
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pericardial Effusion / complications*
  • Pericardial Effusion / etiology
  • Pericardium / pathology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sarcoma, Synovial / complications*
  • Sarcoma, Synovial / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoma, Synovial / diagnostic imaging
  • Sarcoma, Synovial / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Whole Body Imaging

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Doxorubicin