[Primary pericardial mesothelioma: report of a case (author's transl)].

A case of primary pericardial mesothelioma in a 36-year-old man is reported. The disease, with an atypical clinical onset and rapidly fatal course, was diagnosed before death, by means of clinical examination, chest X-rays, cineangiography and microscope examination of pericardial and pleural exudate, revealing the presence of malignant mesothelial cells. Postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis and revealed thoracic and extrathoracic metastasis. The clinical, anatomic, pathologic aspects, as well as treatment of primary pericardial mesothelioma are discussed.