Three-year survival after surgery for primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma: report of a case

Long-term survival from multidisciplinary treatment of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare disease with a poor prognosis. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in Vietnam and international countries for this disease, so treatment experiences from previous clinical cases are very important in the management of this disease.

CASE PRESENTATION

The research team reports a clinical case diagnosed and treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy using the Pemetrexed + Carboplatin regimen at the Oncology Center. The patient has survived for an additional 17 months up to the current time.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

This is an exceptionally rare incident. He survived for a duration of 17 months, which is almost three times longer than the average survival time observed in other documented cases. Additional reports on cases with pericardial mesothelioma are necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of its nature, enabling early identification and appropriate treatment.

CONCLUSION

The patient underwent surgical intervention and received chemotherapy as part of their treatment. The research team emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and treating primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma with difficult antemortem diagnosis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is an extremely rare malignant tumor, and it is difficult to diagnose definitively before death. We present a case in which PMPM was diagnosed at autopsy. We consider this case to be highly suggestive and report it here.

CASE SUMMARY

A 78-year-old male presented with transient loss of consciousness and falls. The transient loss of consciousness was considered to result from complications of diastolic dysfunction due to pericardial disease, fever with dehydration, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Ultrasound cardiography (UCG) and computed tomography showed cardiac enlargement and high-density pericardial effusion. We considered pericardial disease to be the main pathogenesis of this case. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and gadolinium contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed thick staining inside and outside the pericardium. Pericardial biopsy was considered to establish a definitive diagnosis, but the patient and his family refused further treatment and examinations, and the patient was followed conservatively. We noticed a thickening of the pericardium and massive changes in the pericardium on UCG over time. We performed an autopsy 60 h after the patient died of pneumonia. Giemsa staining of the autopsy tissue showed an epithelial-like arrangement in the pericardial tumor, and immunostaining showed positive and negative factors for the diagnosis of PMPM. Based on these findings, the final diagnosis of PMPM was made.

CONCLUSION

PMPM has a poor prognosis, and early diagnosis and treatment are important. The temporal echocardiographic findings may provide a clue for the diagnosis of PMPM.

Malignant primary pericardial mesothelioma presenting as effusive constrictive pericarditis: a case report study

Background

Primary pericardial mesothelioma (PPM) is a rare malignancy with a high prevalence of mortality. The diagnosis is usually challenging using a variety of imaging modalities and invasive procedures and is generally performed at the later stages of the disease or in autopsy. This case study points to an unconventional presentation of PPM and the challenges in diagnosing this rare mortal malignancy.

Case presentation

This study presents a 44-year-old woman with no remarkable medical history with an initial diagnosis of effusive constrictive pericarditis at first hospitalization. Imaging evaluations, including transthoracic echocardiography and chest computed tomography scan, demonstrated visible thickened pericardium, pericardial effusion, and mass-like lesions in pericardium and mediastinum. The definite diagnosis of primary pericardial mesothelioma was established after pericardiectomy and histopathology examinations. Chemotherapy with pemetrexed and carboplatin was administrated to the patient, and she has been through four cycles of chemotherapy with no complications to date.

Conclusion

Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon presentation of PPM. Due to the high mortality rate and late presentation, difficulties and uncertainties in diagnosis, being aware of this rare malignant entity in different cardiac manifestations, particularly when there is no clear explanation or response to treatment in such conditions, is highly important.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13019-021-01684-8.

Localized malignant mesothelioma, an unusual and poorly characterized neoplasm of serosal origin: best current evidence from the literature and the International Mesothelioma Panel

Localized malignant mesotheliomas (LMM) is an uncommon and poorly recognized neoplasm. Its pathologic diagnosis is often surprising in patients with serosal/subserosal based localized tumors that are clinically suspicious for metastatic lesions or primary sarcomas. Once a tumor is diagnosed as "mesothelioma", LMM is often mistaken for diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM). Best currently available evidence about LMM was collected from the literature and cases diagnosed by members of the International Mesothelioma Panel (IMP). One hundred and one (101) LMM have been reported in the English literature. Patients had localized tumors with identical histopathologic features to DMM. Patients ranged in age from 6 to 82 years; 75% were men. Most (82%) of the tumors were intrathoracic. Others presented as intrahepatic, mesenteric, gastric, pancreatic, umbilical, splenic, and abdominal wall lesions. Tumors varied in size from 0.6 to 15 cm. Most patients underwent surgical resection and/or chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Median survival in a subset of patients was 29 months. Seventy two additional LMM from IMP institutions ranged in age from 28 to 95 years; 58.3% were men. Sixty tumors (83.3%) were intrathoracic, others presented in intraabdominal sites. Tumors varied in size from 1.2 to 19 cm. Median survival for 51 cases was 134 months. Best evidence was used to formulate guidelines for the diagnosis of LMM. It is important to distinguish LMM from DMM as their treatment and prognosis is different. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for the diagnosis of LMM as it shows identical histopathology and immunophenotype to DMM.

Localized primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is an extremely rare tumor, which may appear as a localized or a diffuse mass encasing the heart. Diffuse PMPMs have a poor prognosis due to the difficulty of surgical excision, whereas localized PMPMs have clear margins, thus facilitating surgical excision. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial for a favorable prognosis. Eight cases of localized PMPMs have been reported so far, but their characteristics have not been fully described. Herein, we present a patient with localized PMPM and describe the diagnosis methods, treatment, and outcomes of these tumors.

The Antemortem Diagnosis of Primary Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma: A Multidisciplinary Evaluation

A 64-year-old woman complaining of progressive dyspnea was admitted with recurrence of massive pericardial effusion. The patient had been diagnosed with radiation pericarditis based on a previous case of pericardiocentesis. To make a diagnosis and improve her symptoms, imaging examinations and pericardial fenestration were performed. Because of difficulty making a diagnosis, after some months, pericardiotomy and incision of the epicardium were performed. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma of the epithelioid type. Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a rare tumor that is difficult to diagnose. An antemortem diagnosis can be made by a multidisciplinary evaluation.

A Case Report of Primary Pericardial Malignant Mesothelioma Treated with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin

Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma (PPM) is a very rare malignancy, with an incidence of less than 0.002% and represents less than 5% of all mesotheliomas. The cause of pericardial mesothelioma is uncertain that differ from pleural mesothelioma which is associated with asbestos exposure. This malignancy is terribly aggressive and has very poor prognosis with less than six months of overall survival. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman who was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade caused by PPM and received chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for six months. During two years she was alive without disease progression. To better understand the clinical, pathologic features and treatment outcome of this entity, we reviewed 23 cases described in the English literature from 2009, together with our case, provided a total of 24 cases. Based on this review, we suggest that PPM must be considered in patients who have unexplained massive pericardial effusion and recommend chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin for the better outcome of PPM.

A middle-aged woman with a heavy heart

Clinical introduction

A 51-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a 4-month history of progressive dyspnoea on exertion (New York Heart Association Functional Classification III), chest heaviness, dry cough, weight loss and tiredness. She worked as cleaning woman and had no relevant medical history, apart from an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection 2 months before symptom onset. She did not smoke and family history was negative.

On examination, blood pressure was 104/80 mm Hg and heart rate was regular at 145 bpm. On auscultation, heart sounds were distant, muffled and there was no murmur. Minimal, bilateral pitting oedema was observed. Laboratory findings were unremarkable. During hospitalisation, cardiac monitoring revealed paroxysmal new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Chest radiography from a previous hospital had revealed cardiomegaly and subsequent echocardiography had shown pericardial effusion with diastolic dysfunction, for which she had received percutaneous pericardiocentesis. However, repeated echocardiography at our hospital showed recurrence of pericardial effusion with diastolic dysfunction and the presence of a pericardial mass. CT and Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET (18F-FDG PET) scanning were done (figure 1).

Figure 1

| Contrast-enhanced CT scanning and 18F-FDG PET scanning. (A) CT scan, sagittal view; (B) 18F-FDG PET scan, frontal view;  (C) CT scan, axial view and (D) 18F-FDG PET scan, axial view.

Question

Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

And based on patient history and imaging, are further diagnostics needed?

Epidemiology of mesothelioma of the pericardium and tunica vaginalis testis

PURPOSE

Malignant mesothelioma most commonly arises in the pleura and peritoneum but also occurs rarely at other anatomical sites with mesothelial tissue, namely, the pericardium and tunica vaginalis testis (TVT). This review provides a better understanding of the epidemiology of mesothelioma of these extrapleural sites.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the epidemiologic and clinical literature on pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the TVT. We also analyzed U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry data to describe incidence patterns of these malignancies.

RESULTS

An etiologic role of asbestos exposure has been hypothesized for pericardial and TVT mesotheliomas, but no analytical case-control epidemiologic studies exist to test this relationship. A substantial proportion of cases with these malignancies report no known asbestos exposure. In large occupational cohorts with heavy asbestos exposures, no cases of pericardial or TVT mesothelioma have been reported. Trends in the incidence of these malignancies do not match those of pleural mesothelioma, which correspond to historical trends of commercial asbestos use. A male preponderance of pericardial mesothelioma is not evident.

CONCLUSIONS

In the absence of analytic epidemiologic studies, the etiologic role of environmental risk factors for mesothelioma of the pericardium and TVT remains elusive.

Malignant pericardial mesothelioma : A systematic review of current practice

BACKGROUND

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive tumor, with a high misdiagnosis rate and overall bleak prognosis. In 0.7% of all cases, the origin is the pericardium.

METHODS

The present study is a review of the literature published in recent decades focusing on the advances in clinical manifestations, radiological findings, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of malignant pericardial mesothelioma (MPM).

RESULTS

No clear relationship has been established between the etiologies and the development of MPM. Clinical symptoms and signs are nonspecific when present. The main presentations are chest pain and dyspnea. Imaging plays an important role in the detection, characterization, staging, and posttreatment follow-up. The definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of pathological findings. Chest radiography and echocardiography are common techniques used initially, but their roles are limited. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have an advantage in depicting the thickened pericardium, mediastinal lymph node, tumor, and the extension of adjacent structures. Surgery is the most important treatment modality and remains palliative in most cases, while the roles of chemo- and radiotherapy are unsatisfactory.

CONCLUSION

Clinical trials of malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma remain important for MPM management. Multimodality treatment of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy is expected to have a role in the treatment of MPM.

Positive response of a primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma to pemetrexed plus cisplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy: A case report

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is a rare tumor with poor prognosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but numerous cases are inoperable. For the treatment of inoperable or metastatic cases, systemic chemotherapy is required. However, a standard chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of pericardial mesothelioma has not yet been established. Chemotherapy involving pemetrexed and cisplatin has been actively used in the treatment of pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, and may be considered for the treatment of PMPM. The present study reports the case of a patient with PMPM with lung metastasis who demonstrated a positive response to treatment with pemetrexed and cisplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy, leading to prolonged progression-free survival for 21 months.