Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in a patient with pericardial mesothelioma

Abstract

Pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare pericardial tumor. Diagnosing pericardial disease can be challenging, and obtaining an antemortem diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma is particularly difficult. We herein report the case of a 60-year-old man with pericardial mesothelioma diagnosed on endobronchial ultrasoundguided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Chest computed tomography showed a mass surrounding the pericardium, and EBUS-TBNA of the right inferior paratracheal and subcarinal stations was consequently performed. No uptake was noted on 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography, other than in the pericardial mass. The results of histological and immunohistochemical examinations indicated the features of malignant mesothelioma. We therefore diagnosed the patient with pericardial mesothelioma, which was subsequently confirmed at autopsy.