A rare case of idiopathic chronic expanding pericardial hematoma presenting as pericardial tamponade: a case report and literature review

Chronic expanding pericardial hematoma is a very rare disease that occurs after open-heart surgery. We report successful surgical treatment of a rare case of chronic expanding pericardial hematoma that developed into a large mass and presented as pericardial tamponade without apparent cause. An 82-year-old woman with no history of cardiac surgery, chest trauma, or epicardial injury presented with a 3-year history of progressive exertional dyspnea. Surgical resection of the mass via midsternotomy was planned to release the cardiac symptoms and to confirm the diagnosis of chronic expanding pericardial hematoma.