Successful treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer with malignant pericardial tamponade using docetaxel

Reports of malignant pericardial effusion due to adenocarcinoma of the prostate are few and describe only patients with hormone-naive disease. We report a case of malignant pleural and pericardial effusions due to metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Despite presenting with pericardial tamponade, this patient was successfully treated with pericardiocentesis and intrapericardial methylprednisolone and cisplatin, followed by a course of intravenous docetaxel. The patient was alive and free of disease-related symptoms nearly 2 years later. This case suggests that patients with pericardial tamponade due to hormone-refractory prostate cancer do not have a uniformly dismal prognosis and should be considered for aggressive treatment.