Pericardial Effusion with Tamponade in Untreated Hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND Small pericardial effusions are common with chronic hypothyroidism, but large pericardial effusion with tamponade or pre-tamponade physiology is a rare complication of severe uncontrolled hypothyroidism. Presentation of pericardial effusion of any etiology can range from being asymptomatic to hemodynamic instability with cardiac tamponade, depending on the amount and speed of accumulation of pericardial fluid, but pericardial effusion associated with hypothyroidism are usually small. Protracted medication non-adherence was a key factor in our patient's presentation. CASE REPORT We present a case of a woman in her 40s with a known history of autoimmune hypothyroidism with medication non-adherence for longer than 9 months who presented with fatigue, weight gain, limited physical activity, and exertional dyspnea with bilateral swelling of the upper and lower extremities. Examination revealed muffled heart sounds, positive JVD, and positive pulsus paradoxus. She had an elevated TSH, low free T4, and a high anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody level. Echocardiography revealed a large pericardial effusion with impending tamponade. Pericardiocentesis with pericardial drain was done and the patient's symptoms resolved quickly. The patient was restarted on a prior dose of levothyroxine 175 mcg. She had improved by the 3rd day of hospitalization; the pericardial drain was removed, and she was discharged with access to medication. Follow-up revealed complete resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This case emphasizes the importance of recognition of hypothyroidism as the etiology of life-threatening large pericardial effusions, as it is treatable and recurrences are preventable. To prevent recurrence, it is important to achieve euthyroidism after treating an episode of pericardial effusion.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung presenting as a fungating ulcerated skin lesion: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Our patient presents with a novel presentation of a fungated ulcerated skin lesion as the initial presentation of lung cancer. The literature describes skin metastases from lung cancer as nodular, papular, and zosteriform. Our case is a fungating ulcerated skin lesion which is not widely reported in literature. There is a still a need for more data on the clinical presentation and prognosis of such cases as it will elucidate the diagnostic challenges and treatment management. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 55 year old Caucasian male with a 60-pack-year smoking history initially presenting with a nodule on his right upper back that quickly fungated and ulcerated requiring surgical excision. Biopsy of both the skin lesion and the lung mass confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the lung mass being the primary tumor. The patient's clinical and functional status severely declined during his hospital stay and was later discharged to hospice without therapeutic intervention. He later expired a month after hospice stay. CONCLUSIONS: Although uncommon, this case clearly illustrates that skin metastases can be the initial finding of primary lung cancer and that not all patients with lung cancer will present with bronchopulmonary symptoms. It also illustrates that a fungating ulcerated lesion can be the initial presentation of lung cancer in addition to nodular, papular, and zosteriform presentations noted in the literature.