A pneumopericardium caused by gastric ulcer perforation

摘要

A 72-year-old man with a history of chemoradiation therapyfor lung cancer and with known gastric ulcer was admitteddue to chest pain. On day 6, a chest X-ray showedair around the heart (Picture 1) and computed tomographyshowed a fistula between the pericardium and the gastric ulcer(Picture 2). A diagnosis of cardiac tamponade caused bya pneumopericardium was made, and a drainage tube wasinserted into the pericardium (Picture 3). Although the fistulahad closed, later it was found to be patent. The patientultimately died due to heart failure. Pneumopericardium, thepresence of air in the pericardial space, was first describedby Bricketeau (1).