INTRODUCTION: The causes of @entity2293 vary and it has been suggested that underlying causes should be sought in all cases. The purpose of this study was to determine the causes of @entity2293 in our environment, distinguishing between specific and idiopathic causes, and analyzing the proportion and causes in the subgroup of @entity1 with relapsing tamponade. @entity1 AND METHOD: We retrospectively studied all @entity1 who underwent therapeutic pericardiocentesis between 1985 and 2001. The clinical and radiographic features and macroscopic characteristics of the pericardial fluid were analyzed. The final diagnosis in each @entity1 was based on the clinical history, follow-up, pericardial fluid cytology, and pericardial biopsy, if available. RESULTS: Ninety-six @entity1 were included (52 @entity1 /44 @entity1 ), mean age 56.1 16.1 years. The cause of @entity2294 was @entity5 in 50 @entity1 (52.1%), 14 idiopathic @entity2396 (14.6%), 12 @entity177 (12.5%), 7 iatrogenic cases (7.3%), 4 mechanical tamponades (4.2%), 2 @entity378 (2.1%), and 7 other causes (7.3%). Thirty-five @entity1 had relapsing tamponade; only 2 of them had idiopathic @entity2396 (5.7%). We found no significant differences in age, development time, extracted volume or fluid features between tamponade of specific or idiopathic origin. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the cardiac tamponades in our series had a specific cause. This made it necessary to identify a specific underlying cause in each case, especially in relapsing effusions. However, we did not find any variable suggestive of the cause of the disease.

[Should we try to determine the specific cause of XXXX ?].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'patient', 'PATIENTS', 'men'] @entity2293 :: ('MESH:D002305', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac tamponade'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['neoplasm'] @entity2294 :: ('MESH:D010490', 'Disease') :: ['pericardial effusion'] @entity2396 :: ('MESH:D010493', 'Disease') :: ['pericarditis'] @entity177 :: ('MESH:D051437', 'Disease') :: ['renal failure'] @entity378 :: ('MESH:D014376', 'Disease') :: ['tuberculosis']
@entity2293 :: (MESH:D002305,Disease) :: ['cardiac tamponade']
