Pericardial Abscess Mimicking Intracardiac Neoplasm Causing Right Heart Failure

Abstract

Purulent pericarditis involves the whole pericardium and usually presents as an acute illness with high mortality without prompt diagnosis and treatment. Presentation as a mediastinal mass causing compression of the right ventricle (RV) and symptoms of heart failure in patients without previous cardiac surgery is very rare and only three cases have been reported up to now (English language medical literature). Clinicians should be aware of this unusual condition for prompt diagnosis and treatment to be instituted.