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In multiple myeloma the involvement of the pericardium is very rare and usually caused by amyloidosis, infections, bleeding abnormalities or plasma cell infiltration, usually at a late or terminal stage of the disease. Constructive pericarditis and massive pericardial effusion is a rare presentation in this disease. The clinical picture includes slowly progressing pericardial effusion as well as emergency pericardial temponade. Treatment typically consists of surgical management of the effusion by means of pericardial fenestration. Medical thoracoscopy is a non-invasive, simple procedure that gained popularity among interventional pulmologists and which has not been reported before in the management of multiple myeloma pericardial effusion. We present a male patient that was diagnosed with non-specific chronic pericarditis associated with massive pericardial effusion. This is the report of management of pericardial tamponade by means of thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration.

STUDY QUESTION: Do preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) couples experience higher levels of stress during pregnancy and the perinatal period compared with couples who conceive spontaneously (SC) or with ICSI? SUMMARY ANSWER: PGD couples did not experience more psychological stress during pregnancy and beyond than ICSI or SC couples. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN: Previous studies have shown that assisted reproduction technology (ART) couples are more prone to pregnancy-related anxieties than SC couples, but display depressed feelings to an equal or lesser extent. However, only one study has focused on a female PGD sample, which may be a more vulnerable group than other ART groups, due to the potentially complex hereditary background, adverse childhood experiences and losses. In that study, PGD women experienced a reduction in state anxiety, and maternal-antenatal attachment did not differ from normative data. Unfortunately, no data exist on pregnancy-related anxiety, depression and parental-antenatal attachment. Valuable information from both parents (e.g.: couples) is also lacking. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: For this longitudinal prospective study questionnaire, data from 185 women and 157 men (157 couples) were collected between February 2012 until April 2014. Data were analysed using multilevel analysis. The couples conceiving after PGD, ICSI or SC were followed from the first trimester of the pregnancy until the third month post-partum. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: A total of 60 PGD, 58 ICSI and 69 SC couples were initially recruited by various departments of Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel). At each trimester (T1: 12-14 weeks, T2: 20-22 weeks, T3: 30-32 weeks) of pregnancy, depression (EPDS), pregnancy-related anxieties (PRAQ) and parental-antenatal attachment (M/PAAS) were recorded. At T4 (3 months post-partum), depression (EPDS) was assessed again. In the first trimester (T1) broad socio-demographic data and at T4 perinatal health data of both mother and child were recorded. Differences between conception groups over time were analysed using multilevel analyses, taking into account covariation between measurements and within couples. Several perinatal covariates as well as social desirability, coping and adult attachment style were controlled for. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: All three conception groups had similar scores for depression during pregnancy and beyond. Also, pregnancy-related anxiety scales did not differ among the three groups. All groups also followed a similar trajectory in time regarding their scores for anxiety, depression and parental-antenatal attachment. ART groups did not give more socially desirable answers than SC controls. The subsequent moderators: coping and adult attachment style did not add any relevant information. No interaction effects occurred between gender and conception groups. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The participants were Caucasian, Dutch-speaking couples, with medium to high socio-economic status, from a single centre. Our data should be replicated by multicultural and multicentre studies. Furthermore, the inclusion of an additional control group of couples who did not opt for PGD but for prenatal diagnosis may point to the most beneficial strategy for the couple. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: PGD parents invest a similar amount of time and emotion in their future children compared with controls. This implies that successful PGD treatment makes an important psychological contribution towards the well-being of couples given their complex hereditary and family backgrounds. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This research project was funded by grants from the internal research council of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (OZR), the Flemish Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) and the Wetenschappelijk Fonds Willy Gepts (WGFG). UZ Brussel and the Centre for Medical Genetics have received several educational grants for organizing the data collection, from IBSA, Ferring, Organon, Shering-Plough, Merck and Merck Belgium. M.B. has received consultancy and speaker's fees from Organon, Serono Symposia and Merck.

BACKGROUND: Although the resection of solitary visceral melanoma metastases is indicated when possible, further progression of metastatic disease is seen in the vast majority of patients. New modalities of immunotherapy can offer durable disease control in a significant proportion of melanoma patients. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old man was diagnosed with stage III melanoma in 2003 and was treated with autologous dendritic cells in the adjuvant setting. Five years later melanoma metastases causing small bowel obstruction were surgically removed and he was retreated with dendritic cells. Following 5 months without disease manifestations, the patient presented with intermittent abdominal discomfort. Following the visualization of a hot spot at the level of the jejunum on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose position-emission tomography, the patient underwent a laparotomy, during which a solitary melanoma metastasis of the small bowel causing intussusception was resected. The patient has so far remained disease-free, more than one year after the latest surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Combined modality treatment with surgery and immunotherapy may result in an improved long-term outcome for patients with metastatic melanoma.