Idiopathic or mesothelioma-related pericardial effusion: clinical findingsand survival in 17 dogs studied retrospectively

This retrospective study compares the clinical signs and diagnostic finding s of 17 canine patients with histopathological diagnoses of idiopathic peri cardial effusion (IPE) or pericardial mesothelioma (MS) in order to identif y differences in clinical findings or survival times that might aid in prem ortem differentiation of these disease conditions. Based on this series of cases, clinical signs, physical examination findings and results of non-inv asive diagnostic testing are insufficient to differentiate MS from IPE with confidence unless a discrete pericardial or intrapericardial mass can be i dentified. Surgical biopsy may be misleading if large amounts of highly rea ctive and invasive mesothelial cells are seen. Recurrence of significant am ounts of pleural effusion within 120 days of pericardiectomy may increase t he likelihood that MS is the cause of pericardial effusion in cases in whic h other causes have been excluded. Survival longer than 120 days postperica rdiectomy without chemotherapeutic intervention is associated with a decrea sed probability of the condition being MS.