Cardiac tamponade as the first manifestation of cardiothoracic malignancy: a study of 10 cases.

Ten patients with cardiac tamponade as the first presentation of cardiothoracic malignancy were evaluated from May, 1976 to June, 1982. The best treatment of this particularly rare neoplastic manifestation is still being debated. The clinical data of our ten patients were compared to those previously described in the literature. They were first treated by pericardiocentesis and creation of a pericardial window, without recurrence of significant pericardial effusion. Our data suggest that the addition of radiotherapy to the other therapeutic methods (surgery and chemotherapy) may improve survival.