• A 45-year-old man with previously undiagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia was initially seen with hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. The patient required a therapeutic pericardiocentesis, myelosuppressive chemotherapy, and, subsequently, a pericardial window procedure to control the effusion. While microscopic evidence of leukemic involvement of the heart has been well documented, reports of symptomatic pericardial effusion are uncommon. Possible causes and management of pericardial effusion in patients with leukemia are discussed.
(Arch Intern Med 1982;142:2193-2194)