Cardiac Tamponade as First Manifestation of Multiple Myeloma: a Case Report With Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells, mainly in bone marrow. Extramedullary disease is reported in many cases and may occur at diagnosis, at progression, or during relapse phase. Pericardial involvement is a rare condition that usually occurs with advanced-stage disease. We report a rare case of plasma cell-based pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade as a form of presentation of multiple myeloma.Case presentation: A 76-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department for worsening shortness of breath, on segmental examination, she had dyspnea, engorged jugulars, muffled heart sounds and lower limb edema. A Chest X-ray demonstrated cardiomegaly with a mild left pleural effusion, laboratory data showed immunoglobulin G lambda, diagnosis of plasma cell-based pericardial effusion was established by pericardial fluid cytology. The patient received systemic chemotherapy, according to Melphalan-Prednisone and thalidomid protocol. Conclusion: Multiple myeloma with cardiac effusion should be considered for differential diagnosis of patients with recurrent and unexplained pericardial effusions.