Acute cardiac tamponade caused by the extension of multiple hepatic actinomycotic abscesses

Abstract

A 60-year-old man was diagnosed as multiple hepatic abscesses. Failure in the first empiric therapy led to extension into the pericardium, causing acute cardiac tamponade. Actinomyces species were not cultured from the pericardial effusion. The definitive diagnosis was acquired by ultrasound guided needle biopsy. © 2012 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.