We describe a case of a 57-year-old Caribbean-Black male with a medical history of concealed human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with cardiac tamponade (CT) secondary to disseminated histoplasmosis. The patient underwent emergent pericardiocentesis with immediate normalization of his hemodynamic status and resolution of obstructive shock. The clinician should consider atypical etiologies of CT, such as opportunistic infections in patients with HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: cardiac tamponade (CT); disseminated histoplasmosis (DH); human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); pericardial effusion; pericardiocentesis.