[A case of recurrent breast cancer complicated with pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade].

Abstract

A 56-year-old female with breast cancer after left partial mastectomy and subaxillary lymph node dissection was treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. After one year left lung metastasis and malignant pleural effusion had resisted and progressed against several types of chemotherapy. Although combination chemotherapy of trastuzumab and vinorelbine was started, pericardial effusions progressed. Emergent pericardiocentesis was performed, and the catheter was left in the pericardial space. The adenocarcinoma was detected from effusion. On days 3, 5 and 7, after further pericardial drainage, the intracavitary treatment with a 15 mg bolus of thiotepa and 30 mg hydrocortisone was administered, and the catheter was removed the following day. The recurrence of pericardial effusions was not seen in four months until death. Pericardiocentesis and intrapericardial instillation of thiotepa were effective in our case with pericardial effusions.

• Authors: Kohei Shitara, Masaki Munakata, Atsushi Ishiguro, Ritsuko Okada, Rumiko Tomioka, Sumako Mitobe, Yuh Sakata
• Journal: Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy (Gan To Kagaku Ryoho) Vol. 33 Issue 7 Pg. 961-4 (Jul 2006) ISSN: 0385-0684 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 16835487 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
• Thiotepa

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Bone Neoplasms (secondary)
• Brain Neoplasms (radiotherapy, secondary)
• Breast Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Cardiac Tamponade (diagnostic imaging, etiology)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Cranial Irradiation
• Drainage
• Female
• Humans
• Mastectomy, Segmental
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (complications, drug therapy)
• Pericardial Effusion (drug therapy, etiology)
• Quality of Life
• Thiotepa (administration & dosage)
• Ultrasonography