The treatment of malignant pericardial effusion in carcinoma of the breast.

In three patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast, control of a malignant pericardial effusion was achieved with a single pericardiocentesis followed by intensive systemic combination chemotherapy. No patient required reaspiration or any other form of local treatment. A trial of this conservative initial approach is therefore recommended in patients with pericardial effusions due to breast carcinoma. Its use in those with other tumours likely to be sensitive to systemic chemotherapy warrants further evaluation.