Pericardial tamponade as the first manifestation of bronchial adenocarcinoma

Case report. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to the Department of Internal Diseases due to resting dyspnoea, tachycardia and malaise. Her chest X-ray revealed inflammatory lesions, and empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated. Chest CT was then performed which showed lung tumours. During hospitalization, the patient suddenly developed cardiogenic shock induced by pericardial tamponade. The fluid from pericardium was subsequently collected. An histopathological examination of the fluid showed the presence of atypical cells. The patient then underwent bronchoscopy, the biopsy material of which revealed bronchial adenocarcinoma.