Pericardial Disease in Cancer Patients

Purpose of review To understand the variety of conditions in which the pericardium may be affected in cancer patients. Recent findings Cancer may affect the pericardium directly (primary cancer; uncommon) or through metastases (commoner). Cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) may affect the pericardium leading to pericarditis and myopericarditis. Pericardial effusions, tamponade and constrictive pericarditis are complications that can also occur. A variety of techniques (predominantly cardiac imaging related) are used to make the diagnosis with the treatment strategy dependent on whether the pericardial disease is due to cancer or as a result of cancer treatment. Summary A variety of pericardial diseases may be caused by cancer and cancer treatment. Determining the aetiology and providing effective treatment can often be challenging.