EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Pericarditis typically presents with characteristic chest pain, but atypical presentations can lead to diagnostic challenges and delays. We report an unusual case of pericardial effusion presenting primarily as left-sided flank pain, mimicking abdominal pathology in an 83-year-old woman. The physical examination revealed minimal abdominal findings but elicited left thoracic discomfort upon palpation of the left colon. Imaging revealed a significant pericardial effusion with a 5 cm rim requiring therapeutic pericardiocentesis. This case highlights the importance of considering cardiac etiology in patients with atypical abdominal presentations, particularly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities.

 Keywords: Pericarditis; Pericardial Effusion; Atypical Presentation; Abdominal Pain; Diagnostic Challenge

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