Korean J Med.  2021 Jun;96(3):241-246. 10.3904/kjm.2021.96.3.241.

Large Hypothyroidism-Induced Pericardial Effusion with Increased Serum Tumor Markers

• Lee SY
• Lim K

• KMID: 2516476
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2021.96.3.241

Abstract

Pericardial effusion is a common disease seen by echocardiography, and it is found in 3–9% of annual echocardiograms. Although moderate pericardial effusion has been reported in some cases, it is usually asymptomatic and is rarely accompanied by cardiac tamponade. A large pericardial effusion may be due to various causes, including idiopathic causes, tuberculosis, cancer, connective tissue disease, infection, and hypothyroidism. Recent advances in analytic and imaging techniques have increased our ability to diagnose the cause of pericardial effusion accurately. This information is important for determining the proper treatment based on each case’s clinical characteristics. We report a case of large, recurrent pericardial effusion accompanied by hypothyroidism with initial increased levels of tumor markers, including cancer antigen 125, carcinoembryonic antigen, and alpha-fetoprotein. The patient was treated with thyroid hormone only. In follow-up images, the pericardial effusion was resolved and all of the tumor markers were normalized.

Keyword

Pericardial effusion; Biomarkers, tumor; Hypothyroidism; 심낭삼출액; 종양표지자; 갑상선기능저하증