Pericardiectomy and pericardium window creation to treat recurrent pericardial tamponade involving a borderline ovarian tumor

Purpose of investigation: Pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade is an uncommon metastatic manifestation of ovarian tumors, with only one previously reported case involving a borderline ovarian tumor (BOT). Case: A 50-year-old woman was diagnosed and treated for a primary Stage IIc BOT. The disease recurred as an emergency pericardiocentesis eight years later, which was resected following pericardial effusion with a cardiac tamponade. This occurred two more times, and on the last occasion, drainage failed to relieve her symptoms. However, her symptoms resolved after the creation of a pericardium pleural window together with a pericardiectomy. Conclusion: For patients with a metastatic BOT, the creation of a pericardium pleural window and pericardiectomy is effective for recurrent pericardial tamponade, if the pericardial space is posteriorly located and/or segmented.

Pericardiectomy; Pericardium window creation; Pericardial tamponade; Borderline ovarian tumor.

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