Common precedents: lung cancer, breast cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma
Risk factors for radiation pericarditis:
(1) high radiation dose
(2) extent of pericardium exposed
(3) fraction size
The onset may be during radiation therapy or after a latency period of 20 years or more.
The effusion may be serous, hemorrhagic or fibrinous.
Complications may include:
(1) constrictive pericarditis
(2) tamponade
Differential diagnosis:
(1) infectious pericarditis
(2) chemotherapy-induced pericarditis
(3) radiation-induced heart or coronary artery disease
(4) malignant pericarditis
