A rare giant pericardial cyst mimicking a paracardiac mass

Giant pericardial cyst, an unusual cause of right heart failure in an elderly patient with tuberculosis and HIV: A case report

Pericardial cysts are rare mediastinal masses commonly asymptomatic and incidentally found on chest radiographs. Pericardial cysts may be acquired/inflammatory in origin and may be symptomatic. We present a case of 65-year-old male who presented with symptoms of right heart failure. Diagnosis of a giant pericardial cyst was made using imaging modalities such as chest X-ray, computed tomography scan, and echocardiography. Percutaneous cyst aspiration was done under echocardiography guidance. Radiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons need to understand the pathology of inflammatory/acquired pericardial cysts to include in their differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses.

Surgical treatment of giant mediastinal tumors

Background

This study aims to evaluate the surgical treatment outcomes of giant mediastinal tumors.

Methods

Between July 2013 and July 2018, medical data of a total of 31 patients (26 males, 5 females; mean age 27.7±8.2 years; range, 18 to 56 years) who underwent radical surgery for a giant mediastinal tumor in our center and 47 cases (26 males, 21 females; mean age 45.4±16.7 years; range, 19 to 62 years) of giant mediastinal tumors retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database were retrospectively reviewed. Two-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates of the patients were evaluated.

Results

All patients underwent radical surgery (R0 resection). Symptoms caused by giant mediastinal tumors were relieved after radical surgery during follow-up. The two-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 100% and 86.7%, respectively, indicating a good prognosis. The surgical procedures for malignancies were more difficult than those for benign pathologies.

Conclusion

Radical surgery is the mainstay for treatment of giant mediastinal tumors to relieve symptoms in a short period of time and to achieve a good prognosis for up to two years, regardless of adjuvant therapy. The surgical route should be cautiously planned before radical surgery to reduce complications.

Anesthetic and surgical considerations of giant pericardial cyst: Case report and literature review

Introduction

Pericardial cysts are considered as a rare congenital abnormality, mostly found incidentally. The estimated incidence of pericardial cyst is 1:100,000 and represent approximately 6% of all mediastinal masses. Patients can present with symptoms similar to acute chest pain or right-sided heart failure or can be asymptomatic.

Presentation

A 46-year-old female who is known to have hypertension and hypothyroidism presented to the breast clinic with left breast mass that was proved by core needle biopsy as proliferative breast lesion. During the preoperative assessment, the patient reported progressive shortness of breath and cough over the last two years and bilateral lower limb edema. Her preoperative chest X-ray showed a well-defined oval like opacification at the right cardiophrenic angle that was proved by chest computed tomography imaging as a cystic mass od most likely a pericardial origin. A huge pericardial cyst originating from the right diaphragmatic surface was excised through a mini-sternotomy incision with smooth postoperative recovery. The patient-reported significant improvement in her symptoms and her lifestyle during her follow up.

Discussion

Pericardial cysts represent 6%-7% of all mediastinal masses with an estimated incidence of 1:100,000. About 70% of pericardial cysts originate at the right cardiophrenic angle and less frequently at the left cardiophrenic angle, they are usually suspected when the chest x-ray shows an enlarged contour of the right heart border. Mediastinal cysts have many differential diagnoses and the preoperative decision might be challenging in many cases. Pericardial cysts appear as oval, thin-walled homogeneous masses on cardiac computed tomography. The choice between surgical intervention and conservative follow up is related mainly to the size and symptoms that are induced by the cyst.

Conclusion

As pericardial cysts are rarely diagnosed pathology, a high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosis. Surgical resection is indicated when they are huge, enlarging in size or symptomatic. Morbidity and mortality risks following pericardial cyst excision are very low.