Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium or cancer of the sac that holds the heart.

Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath. The tumor and/or fluid that accumulates between the heart and the sac can compress the heart, causing such symptoms. Your doctor may diagnose this cancer using a thoracoscope to perform a thoracoscopy, which might also involve opening up the chest cavity to remove the tumor.

Patients who develop excessive fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may have a sample of the fluid taken to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. Fluid might also be drained to relieve symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. The procedure for drawing out this fluid is called “pericardiocentesis.” For more information about the diagnosis of this disease, click here.