Cardiac tamponade as an unusual presentation of advanced breast cancer in pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in pregnanc y. Though the prognosis by stage is not different from that in nonpregnant women, if is more likely to present at an advanced stage in pregnancy. CASE: A 28-year-old primigravida presented with dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. The workup revealed cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis and subseq uent pericardial window were performed. Cytology of the pericardial fluid r evealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Ultrasonography displayed a r ight breast mass, and biopsy identified it as the primary source of the can cer. CONCLUSION: Cardiac tamponade is an unusual presentation of advanced breast cancer. To the best of our knowledge, if has not previously been described as occurring in pregnancy.