{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Pericardial effusion may occur in patients with established cancer but may also represent the first manifestation of an occult malignancy. This study evaluated the diagnostic contribution of pericardial fluid cytology and pathological assessment according to previous oncological status, with particular emphasis on previously unrecognized malignancy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with pericardial disease between January 2021 and December 2025 at a tertiary cardiovascular center. The final cohort comprised 234 clinical episodes in 209 patients. Clinical, laboratory, imaging, procedural, cytological, and histopathological data were analyzed in relation to previous oncological status and malignant pericardial involvement. Results: Pathological assessment was available in 95/234 episodes (40.6%), with neoplastic involvement identified in 21/95 (22.1%). Neoplastic findings occurred in 13/33 (39.4%) evaluable episodes with known malignancy and 8/62 (12.9%) without a previous cancer diagnosis (odds ratio, 4.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–12.11; p = 0.004). Conversely, 20/33 (60.6%) evaluable episodes in patients with known cancer showed no neoplastic involvement. In all eight patients without previously known malignancy, pericardial fluid cytology provided the first pathological evidence of cancer; six (75%) had findings suggestive of a pulmonary origin. All presented with large effusions and hemodynamic compromise. Conclusions: Pericardial pathological assessment provides diagnostic information beyond previous oncological status. It can distinguish malignant from non-neoplastic pericardial involvement in patients with established cancer while also revealing occult malignancy when pericardial disease is its first presentation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Doctoral School Medicine-Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania",
    "Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Timisoara, Gheorghe Adam Street, No. 13A, 300310 Timisoara, Romania",
    "Advanced Research Center, Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, 300310 Timisoara, Romania",
    "Multidisciplinary Doctoral School, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania",
    "Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumology of Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania",
    "Department VI Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania",
    "NEUROPSY-COG Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, Department of Neuroscience, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania",
    "Department of Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, E. Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Iulia Raluca Munteanu",
      "orcid": "0009-0002-9501-5530"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ramona Cristina Novaconi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Radu Ioan Lala"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Caius Glad Streian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ciprian Nicușor Dima"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Adrian Petru Merce"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lucian Silviu Falniță"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Marinela-Adela Scuturoiu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Adrian-Grigore Merce"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Alina Gabriela Negru",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9838-744X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Horea Bogdan Feier",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4870-8249"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7dmxkfxkddjjz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/cancers18203368",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13702510/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "7dmxkfxkddjjz",
  "issns": [
    "2072-6694"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3368",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2705|Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222921084",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13702510/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13702510",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7dmxkfxkddjjz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:58Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/cancers18203368",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3368"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:31Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13702510",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13702510"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2705|Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade",
      "subfield": "cardiovascular"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Occult Malignancy Presenting as Pericardial Effusion: The Diagnostic Contribution of Pericardial Fluid Cytology",
  "title_text": "Occult Malignancy Presenting as Pericardial Effusion: The Diagnostic Contribution of Pericardial Fluid Cytology",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7dmxkfxkddjjz",
  "venue": "Cancers",
  "versions": []
}