Cardiac tamponade as the initial manifestation of metastatic adenocarcinoma from the colon: a case report

Abstract

Metastatic cardiac malignancies mainly come from the lung, breast, and the lymphoreticular system by direct invasion or hematogenous or lymphatic spread. Metastasis from colorectal cancer to the heart or pericardium is seldom reported and only sporadic antemortem cases have been reported. We report an unusual case of malignant pericardial effusion caused by metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon. Malignant pericardial effusion and subsequent tamponade was the earliest manifestation without any other confirmed clinical metastases. Pericardiotomy was performed to relieve the life-threatening cardiac tamponade. We report this rare case and review the literature.