Cardiac tamponade due to ruptured cystic teratoma: report of two cases

We report the rare two cases of cardiac tamponade due to ruptured cystic teratoma. In both cases, a chest computed tomography scan showed large cystic mass with large amount of pericardial effusion. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed cardiac tamponade physiology. En bloc resection of the mass was performed and pathologic examination showed mature cystic teratoma. The postoperative course of patients was uneventful. A cystic mediastinal teratoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion.