Lung cancer manifested as cardiac tamponade: a case report

A case of lung cancer manifested as cardiac tamponade was reported. A 64-year-old male had anterior chest pain and dyspnea. A chest X-ray films showed an enlarged heart with a solitary round shadow in the left lung hilus. Echocardiogram disclosed a large amount of pericardial effusion. Emergency pericardiectomy with drainage was accomplished. The patient lived for 8 months without effusion accumulation. Histologically adenocarcinoma of the lung with prominent lymph nodes metastases was disclosed. Surgical decompression such as pericardiectomy or pericardial fenestration is a valuable selection in the treatment of pericardial effusion and tamponade.