Cardiac constriction due to malignant disease of the pericardium

Two patients with pericardial constriction due to tumour are described. The tumour consisted of a lymphoma in both cases. Tumour is not an uncommon cause of pericardial constriction; it was responsible for 6% of a consecutive series of 34 cases seen at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. Treatment may provide satisfactory relief of symptoms, at least in the short-term.