Extracardiac mass causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with disseminated lymphoma1

Abstract

The case of a young man with disseminated lymphocytic lymphoma, including involvement of the anterior mediastinum, resulting in compression of the heart and paradoxical pulse, is discussed. Echocardiography showed dynamic respiration-related changes in right ventricular and left ventricular filling and a retrosternal mass thought to be responsible for the clinical and echocardiography abnormalities. Paradoxical pulse did not respond to thoracentesis, but resolved soon after the initiation of systemic chemotherapy and a reduction in the size of the anterior mediastinal mass. Causes of tamponade and echocardiographic signs of the process are reviewed.