Information
Most malignant pericardial effusions result from direct malignant involvement with the pericardium. Other, rarer causes of effusions in cancer patients include radiation-induced pericarditis or chemotherapy-induced pericarditis associated with agents such as Doxorubicin or Cyclophosphamide.
Most common symptoms are dyspnoea, fatigue, cough and chest pain. Signs include elevated JVP, tachycardia, hypotension, pulsus paradoxus, Kussmauls’s sign.
Who to refer:
All patients with a suspected malignant pericardial effusion should be referred via medical team in first instance.
Who not to refer:
If in doubt please do not hesitate to call Edinburgh Cancer Centre Acute Oncology teamon 07798774842 or 0131 537 1000. You may be advised to refer via medical team.
How to refer:
Refer via Flow Centre 03000134000
All patients on or within 6 weeks of treatment should be encouraged to monitor symptoms and call Cancer Treatment Helpline (CTH) on 08009177711 if any treatment related concerns. Please note the CTH is a call operator service provided by NHS 24 who then refer on to acute care specialist. They are not able to give specialist advice. Note if a patient has presented to primary care for assessment the patient should not be advised to call the CTH to pass on this information or seek further advice. The primary care clinician should call the Acute Oncology team at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre to discuss if appropriate.
Link to Acute Oncology Initial Management Guidelines:
UKONS | Acute Oncology Initial Management Guidelines (sundownsolutions.co.uk)
