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Pericardial effusion and tamponade following interferon alpha treatment for locally advanced melanoma

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Abstract

Regional Metastatic Melanoma has a relatively high mortality rate. Adjuvant interferon-alpha (IFN-α) has been shown to improve disease-free survival, post-resection. Cardiotoxicity associated with IFN-α use has been described previously in the literature, but here we describe the first case of pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade secondary to IFN-α 2b treatment of melanoma. Clinicians should be aware of this potentially lethal complication and the possible acuity of its onset.

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Correspondence to Teresa Petrella.

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Rauw, J., Ahmed, S. & Petrella, T. Pericardial effusion and tamponade following interferon alpha treatment for locally advanced melanoma. Med Oncol 29, 1304–1307 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-011-9935-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-011-9935-7

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