BackgroundMetastatic involvement of pericardium producing cardiac tamponade is rare. When occurs it is mainly from the lung, breast and the neoplasms of the lymphoreticular system. Hematogenous spread of parotid adenocarcinoma to heart is extremely rare and only two cases have been reported in literature so far.Case presentationWe report an unusual case of a patient with adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland, which presented with cardiac tamponade and was treated urgently with pericardial drainage and intrapericardial injection of cisplatin.ConclusionsOur case demonstrates the possibility of metastatic pericardial involvement and cardiac tamponade in patients with parotid adenocarcinoma. The patient was successfully treated with pericardial drainage and intrapericardial injection of chemotherapeutic agent to control recurrent pericardial effusion.

Improvement of screening programs and new treatment strategies against cervical cancer (CC) have increased survival rates of patients in the last decades. As more women survive this type of cancer, their quality of life (QOL) has become a field of great scientific and social importance. Different types of therapy have varying results on the QOL of patients. In this study, we compared the impact of radiotherapy (RAD) and radiochemotherapy (RAD/ CHEM) on CC patients' QOL. Our sample included 105 women who suffered from CC stages IA-IIIA. They were treated either with RAD or RAD/CHEM, and filled in the questionnaires 1 year after treatment completion. We used 4 questionnaires, EORTC QLQ C-30, EORTC QLQ-CΧ24, Questionnaire of Post-traumatic Psychological Disorder, and Greek Symptom Control Questionnaire by M.D. Anderson, in order to assess their QOL. Except for differences in descriptive characteristics of the patients' (age, number of children, contraceptives) and early toxicity in some organs, no statistically significant difference was observed in the main (physical, sexual, emotional) aspects of life between the 2 groups of treated patients. Treatment type had no effect on total QOL. In conclusion, the addition of CHEM to RAD in the treatment plan of CC patients had no significant impact on their QOL.

Multiple myeloma presents with various clinical manifestations depending on the mode and the extent of organ involvement. Pericardial myeloma involvement and subsequent cardiac tamponade is extremely rare (<0,2%) [1]. We report the case of a patient with multiple myeloma who presented with cardiac tamponade and was evaluated surgically with thoracotomy and minimal debulking pericardiectomy (fenestration).

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone in the palliative treatment of pleural effusions due to breast cancer. 114 patients with a known breast malignancy and recurrent symptomatic pleural effusion referred for chest tube drainage and sclerotherapy were studied. They had received no prior intrapleural therapy and had a predicted survival of >1 month. Survival, complications and response to pleurodesis according to radiographic criteria were recorded. The data are expressed as the mean +/-SEM and the median. The mean age of the entire group was 53,5 +/-2,1 years. The mean volume of effusion drained was 1020 +/-125 ml and the chest tube was removed within 5 days in 82% of patients. There were no deaths related to the procedure. Side effects of chemical pleurodesis included mainly fever, chest pain, nausea and vomiting. At 30 days 64 patients (56,3%) had a complete response (CR) and 30 patients (26,3%) partial response (PR) to pleurodesis (overall response: 82,6%). At 60 days the overall response was 78,5% (CR:53,5%, PR: 25%). The mean survival of the entire population was 15,6 +/-2 months. Mitoxantrone is effective in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion due to breast carcinoma without causing significant local or systemic toxicity.

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