A second case of pericardial mesothelioma mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus in the literature in over 30 years: a case report

Journal of Medical Case Reports

Alvise Berti¹  Luciano Riboldi²  Carolina Mensi²  Roberto Dore³  Alessandro Romano⁴ 

[1] Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute;Department of Preventive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico;Institute of Radiology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo;School of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano;

关键词: Pericardial mesothelioma;    SLE;    Pericardial effusion;    Pericarditis;    Asbestos;    Case report;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13256-017-1237-z

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm which commonly develops in the pleura of people exposed to asbestos. Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for only 0.7 % of all malignant mesotheliomas and it usually presents with pericardial effusion, mimicking serositis. To date, there are approximately 200 cases of pericardial mesothelioma described in the medical literature, and little knowledge exists about the systemic manifestations of this pathology. The first and only described case of pericardial mesothelioma with autoimmune features dates back to 1984 and, in our case report, we describe the second. Case presentation We report a case of a 45-year-old white woman whose pericardial mesothelioma was initially misdiagnosed as pericardial involvement of an autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus). After several relapses of pericardial effusion, a computed tomography scan and a biopsy with histological analysis were performed revealing neoplastic growth. Conclusions We describe a rare case of pericardial mesothelioma in a patient with a clinical presentation compatible with lupus serositis. Clinicians should consider malignant mesothelioma in the differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion, especially when it is recurrent and not clearly explained by other causes. Cytological samples should always be obtained and, if imaging tools are suggestive for solid processes, histological confirmation is mandatory.

【 授权许可】

Unknown