HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Touati, G. D. Articles by Marticho, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Touati, G. D. Articles by Marticho, P. Related Collections Esophagus - cancer Mediastinum Cardiac - other

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2003;24:847-849
© 2003 Elsevier Science NL

Case report

Purulent pericarditis caused by malignant oesophago-pericardial fistula

Cardiac Surgery Department, University of Amiens, South Hospital, Amiens Cedex 01, France

Received 2 April 2003; received in revised form 7 July 2003; accepted 14 July 2003.

^* Corresponding author. Tel.: +33-3-2245-5925; fax: +33-3-2245-5331
e-mail: gtouati.hms{at}invivo.edu

A case of purulent pericarditis with an unusual aetiology and a favourable outcome is reported. This patient presented with purulent pericarditis secondary to an oesophago-pericardial fistula caused by a squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus. A review of the literature revealed only a small number of similar cases. The prognosis can be improved by rapid diagnosis, appropriate antibiotic therapy, surgical drainage and surgical repair of the fistula. An aggressive therapeutic approach should be proposed in order to achieve long-term remission in these frequently young patients.

Key Words: Purulent pericarditis • Esophago-pericardial fistula • Carcinoma