Pericarditis in malignancy history and symptoms


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

History and symptoms
In addition to malignancy specific presentation, patients may present with the following symptoms due to pericardial involvement:
 * Fever
 * Chest pain that improves on leaning forward and worsens on inspiration
 * Breathlessness
 * Orthopnoea
 * Dizziness
 * Palpitation
 * Malaise
 * Ankle edema
 * Weight loss

Many patients may be asymptomatic and pericardial involvement may be detected incidentally on chest x-ray or on autopsy.