[Pericardiac tamponade revealing a lympho-epithelial thymoma (author's transl)].

An inaugural pericardiac tamponade performed on a 39 years old man, reveals a lympho-epithelial thymoma. The anatomic diagnosis first suggested by the radiography after evacuation of the effusion, is confirmed by the swab taken during the retroxiphoidal drainage. A 57 Gray cobaltotherapy was then performed. 18 months later, a satisfactory general state, allowed the patient to return to his professional activity. The evaluation of a tumourous residue by a tomodensitometry, is discussed at the light of a comparable observation confirming the efficiency of cobaltotherapy but, at the same time, its agressivity for such an important target volume. A previous surgical reduction, whenever possible, is then considered; an unthinkable eventuality in the reported observation.