PERICARDIAL-EFFUSION AND TUMOR OF THE MED IASTINUM - A CASE-REPORT OFAN UNUSUAL ASSOCIATION

A young man aged 26 was admitted as an emergency to the thoracic surgi cal unit for a pericardial tamponade associated with a tumour in the l eft anterosuperior mediastinum. After pericardial drainage by the sub- xiphoid route a left anterior mediastinotomy showed that the tumour ha d disappeared and a flabby diverticulum of the pericardium was found w hich was resected. Pericardial diverticulae are coelomic cysts which a re usually considered to be congenital in origin similar to the pleuro -pericardiac cysts to which they are attached. The clinical history, w hich had a particulary dramatic and alarming onset is in favour of an acquired disease, which is equally possible in this type of lesion.