Primary Mesothelioma of the Pericardium

MIesotheliomas of the pericardium are one of the causes of sanguineous pericardial effusion. C(lini-cal and pathologic features of a case of this iare condition are presented. Certain clinical mani-festations and laboratory findings that may serve as a basis for future tintemiortemn diagnosis are emphasized. A PATIENT with a pericardial effusion may frequently present a diagnostic problem. A primary malignancy of the heart or pericardium is one of the rare causes of such an effusion. Lymburner1 at the Mayo Clinic reported an incidence of.05 per cent in 8,500 consecutive autopsies. Mesotheliomas com-pose only a small percentage of the primary tumors of the heart and pericardium. Dawe, Wood, and Mitchell2 in a recent and excellent review of the literature could find only 24 cases that conformed to the category of primary mesothelioma of the heart or pericardium. This case of a mesothelioma of the peri-cardium is reported because it is typical of a rare condition, there is no doubt regarding the origin of the tumor, and in the hope that this clinicopathologic picture of persistent bloody pericardial effusion may serve as the basis for future antemortem diagnoses. CASE REPORT K. C., a 78-yeai-oldl retired fireman, entere(l th