Boxer's pericardium

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003 Dec;24(6):1043-5. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(03)00579-7.

Abstract

A 65-year-old retired professional boxer presented with progressively worsening shortness of breath, peripheral oedema and mild abdominal swelling over a period of 6 months. His only past medical history was hypertension. Subsequent investigations revealed chylous ascites, pericardial constriction and bilateral chylothorax. He had uneventful pericardectomy, and post-operatively the chylothorax resolved only after administration of octreotide for 10 days. The histopathological features of fibrosis, haemosiderin deposition in the pericardium and abundant haemosiderin-laden macrophages are consistent with chronic resolving haemopericardium. These findings suggested that the cause of pericardial constriction was repeated chest trauma from boxing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Boxing / injuries*
  • Chylothorax / diagnostic imaging
  • Chylothorax / drug therapy
  • Chylothorax / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Octreotide / therapeutic use
  • Pericardium / diagnostic imaging
  • Pericardium / injuries*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Octreotide