Malignant pleural mesothelioma with constrictive pericarditis as the first manifestation: A case report

Abstract

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) with pericardial involvement is extremely rare. We now report a rare case of malignant PM with constrictive pericarditis as the first presentation. A 59-year-old male diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis underwent pericardiectomy and pericardial pathology revealed mesothelial hyperplasia. Eight months after surgery, the patient was admitted to the hospital with chest tightness and wheezing for 5 days. Computed tomography scan of the chest showed a left lung expansion insufficiency, limited bilateral pleural thickening, pericardial thickening with a small amount of pericardial effusion, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, bilateral supraclavicular fossa, bilateral cervical roots, and right axilla. The pleural malignancy should be possibly considered. Pathology after pleural puncture showed malignant PM. Pathology after left supraclavicular lymph node puncture biopsy showed metastatic malignant mesothelioma. The diagnosis of this patient was clear. Although malignant PM rarely involves the pericardial constriction, we cannot ignore the fact that malignant PM involves the pericardium. The patient has been diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis, accompanied by pleural thickening and pleural effusion. Without other pathogenic factors, pleural biopsy should be aggressively performed in patients with constrictive pericarditis to determine the cause.

Keywords: constrictive pericarditis; malignant pleural mesothelioma; pericardium.

FIGURE 1

Postoperative CT (A) Sternal internal fixation. (B) Bilateral pleural thickening, left lung insufficiency, pericardial thickening combined with a small amount of pericardial effusion. (C) Enlargement of lymph nodes in the superior and inferior clavicular fossa. (D) Mediastinal lymph node enlargement.

FIGURE 2

Pleural pathology: malignant mesothelioma demonstrated.

FIGURE 3

Pericardial pathology.