Abstract

Primary pericardial mesothelioma is a rare and lethal tumor, with a reported prevalence of <0.002% [1]. Pleural and pericardial mesotheliomas, which are far more common are usually associated with exposure to asbestos. However, the cause of pericardial mesothelioma is less clear [2] and is influenced by other factors like genetic predisposition, immunological impairment, infection, radiation, dietary factors and recurrent serosal inflammation [3]. Clinical manifestations of the neoplasm include constrictive pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and heart failure. Because of late presentation and few treatment approaches, primary pericardial mesothelioma carries a poor prognosis. In this paper, we present a case of primary pericardial mesothelioma in a 46 year female presenting as recurrent pericardial effusion along with constrictive pericarditis.