Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the pericardium, 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 surrounding tissues can compress the heart, causing such symptoms. A doctor may perform a thoracoscopy to diagnose the cancer, and might also open up the chest cavity to remove the tumor.
Excessive fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may be drained and tested to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. Fluid might also be drained to relieve symptoms of the cancer. The procedure for draining this fluid is called a “pericardiocentesis.”
