Intrapericardial mitomycin C for the management of malignant pericardial effusion secondary to gastric cancer: case report and review.

In a 57-year-old man with recurrent gastric cancer, cardiac tamponade due to malignant pericardial effusion developed. Echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis followed by an intrapericardial instillation of mitomycin C provided a complete control of the pericardial effusion, and no adverse effects were observed with this procedure. An intrapericardial instillation with effective anticancer agents is therefore considered to be useful for the management of malignant pericardial effusion.