# Case report: A rare case of gelatinous pericardial effusion in a COVID-19 positive breast cancer patient

## TL;DR

A rare case of gelatinous pericardial effusion is reported in a woman with breast cancer and COVID-19, highlighting a unique interaction between these conditions.

## Contribution

The report documents a previously unobserved gelatinous pericardial fluid in a patient with both breast cancer and COVID-19.

## Key findings

- A 52-year-old woman with breast cancer and COVID-19 developed gelatinous pericardial effusion requiring pericardiectomy.
- The gelatinous appearance of pericardial fluid was not previously described in association with breast cancer or COVID-19.
- The case suggests a potential unique interaction between breast cancer and COVID-19 in pericardial effusion development.

## Abstract

Pericardial effusion can occur as a complication of breast cancer and coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, the specific characteristics of pericardial fluid in patients concurrently experiencing both conditions remain poorly understood.

This report describes a 52-year-old woman with a history of hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and breast cancer who developed recurrent pericardial effusion complicated by cardiac tamponade following COVID-19 infection. The patient initially underwent pericardiocentesis and subsequently required pericardiectomy. Notably, the pericardial fluid obtained during pericardiocentesis exhibited a distinctive gelatinous appearance, a feature not previously described in association with breast cancer or COVID-19.

This case highlights the potential for unique interactions between breast cancer and COVID-19, particularly in the development of pericardial effusions with unusual characteristics and a gelatinous appearance. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of this association.