Adrián Kolesár, Tomáš Toporcer, Martin Ledecký, František Sabol
Tumour of the pericardium is a rare diagnosis. Secondary tumour dissemination into the pericardium is more frequent than primary tumours of the pericardium. The most frequent primary tumours of the pericardium are a mesothelial cyst, mesothelioma or solitary fibrous tumour, teratoma, bronchogenic cyst, lipoma, lymphangioma, angiosarcoma, haemangioma, schwannoma and synovial sarcoma. The most frequent tumours with metastasis into the pericardium are malignant melanoma, lymphoma, various types of carcinomas and leukemia, tumours of lung, breast cancer and tumours of oesophagus. Tumours of the pericardium are most frequently asymptomatic. The tumours might present by dyspnoea, chest pain and pericardial fluid if the diameter of tumours is big and localization of tumours is specific. Frequently the first presentation of tumours is pericardial tamponade with haemodynamic consequences. The treatment of primary tumours of the pericardium is surgical excision. The presence of symptomatic secondary dissemination is also an indication for surgery. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are useful as adjuvant therapy but they frequently lead to pulmonary and myocardial fibrosis.