Study note
MedicineCardiology

Investigating suspected constrictive pericarditis

THE CONTEXT
Imaging helps establish constrictive pericarditis, while more detailed studies may be needed to distinguish it from restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Imaging and diagnostic differentiation

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Chest X-ray: Pericardial calcification may be visible and can help establish the diagnosis.
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Echocardiography: This often helps establish the diagnosis.
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CT scanning: This is useful for imaging pericardial calcification.
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Difficult differential diagnosis: Distinguishing constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy may require complex echo–Doppler studies and cardiac catheterisation.
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