A case of carcinoid pericardial metastases and massive effusion

Surgical treatment of cardiac tamponade developed in two patients with terminal stage lung cancer

Introduction: Although tamponade due to pericardial effusion that develops in advanced stage lung cancer is rare, it is a life-threatening complication. Case report: 59 and 72 years old 2 female patients diagnosed with cardiac tamponade were hospitalized in Cardiology Clinic of Balækesir State Hospital. Massive pericardial effusion that caused diastolic collapse of right ventricle was detected in their echocardiographies. Inoperable lung cancer was diagnosed as a result of bronchoscopy performed due to pathologies observed in their radiograms. Despite repeated pericardiocentesis, fluid continued to accumulate rapidly. Hence, pericardioperitoneal window was formed through subxiphoid route to obtain continuous drainage in both patients. Significant pericardial effusion didn't develop in echocardiographies in the 2nd and the 6th-month post-operative follow-ups. Conclusion: Subxiphoid pericardioperitoneal window is a simple, safe and effective surgical procedure. It may be performed in some patients with malignant tamponade

Metastatic Midgut Carcinoid in the Myocardium

Metastasis of neuroendocrine tumor to the myocardium is rare. We present a case of 64-year-old woman, who presented initially with abdominal pain and large adnexal mass. The image-guided biopsy showed low-grade neuroendocrine tumor with Ki67 less than 2% within the ovarian tissue. CT staging revealed bilateral adnexal masses, liver metastases, and primary lesion in the terminal ileum. Octreoscan showed marked tracer uptake within the lower esophagus not related to obvious mass on CT scan; the echocardiography confirmed the presence of a 2.7 cm LV/LA mass. In this case, close correlation between ECHO and the octreoscan obviated need for myocardial biopsy.