Primary malignant neoplasm of the pericardium is very rare. Neoplastic involvement of the pericardium may result in rapidly developing hemorrhagic effusion. A 30-year-old male who occasionally suffered from chest tightness was referred to our hospital under the diagnosis of unstable angina. He presented with acute chest pain and severe dyspnea that had developed one day previously. The diagnostic investigations such as echocardiography, chest CT and magnetic resonance image suggested cardiac tamponade that was caused by rupture of the pericardial teratoma. An operation to remove the tumor and effusion was performed. The pericardial mass was completely excised, and the result of the frozen biopsy favored malignancy. The final pathologic report was malignant fibrosarcoma of the pericardium and no malignant cells were found on the cytology of the pericardial effusion. The patient had a smooth postoperative course and was referred to another hospital for additional radiation therapy. We report here on this case of cardiac tamponade that was caused by primary pericardial fibrosarcoma, and this required urgent diagnosis and surgical management.

Keywords: Pericardium, Neoplasm, heart