The probable causes of pericardial effusion include trauma, pericarditis, myocardial infarction, malignancy and drugs, etc. Malignancy induced pericardial effusion accounts for about 13 to 23% of all the reasons. Chest tightness, dyspnea and irritability could be the symptoms of malignant pericardial effusion. The symptom severity depends on the accumulating rate of pericardial fluid. It is called 'cardiac tamponade' if the effusion represses the heart and affects the cardiac ejection function. The clinical diagnosis of pericardial effusion needs explicit physical examination, EKG and biochemical survey. Cardiac sonography is a safe and reliable tool for image diagnosis. Removing the excessive pericardial fluid with adequate drainage can relieve the associated symptoms effectively and improve the quality of life of terminal patient. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of pericardial effusion in a terminal lung cancer patient.