Tamponade with recurrent chylopericardium in patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: chemotherapy is the key management after pericardiocentesis

Abstract

Cardiac tamponade, the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space, leads to impaired venous return, loss of left ventricular preload and haemodynamic collapse. Chylopericardium is an unusual cause of the pericardial effusion. This is often secondary to malignancy. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a primary malignancy from the lymph node. It can be produced by B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes or natural killer cells. The term chylopericardium refers to a pericardial effusion containing milky fluid within the intrapericardial space. We present a case of a 42-year-old male patient who came with dyspnoea as a result of cardiac tamponade caused by a massive milky pericardial effusion (chylopericardium) secondary to mediastinal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.