Key result
Constrictive pericarditis chest X-rays reveal pulmonary venous congestion in ~86% of patients.
Why the study?
Chest radiograph findings in constrictive pericarditis patients undergoing pericardiectomy were correlated with hemodynamic and operative findings to better understand clinical presentation.
In patients with constrictive pericarditis, chest radiographs frequently demonstrate left atrial enlargement and pulmonary venous congestion, while pericardial calcification is present in less than half of the cases.
Radiographic signs may prompt evaluation for constrictive pericarditis; leaves open validation of diagnostic patterns in larger cohorts.
Chest radiographs of 28 patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis at University Hospital were reviewed. The findings are co-related with hemodynamic changes and operative findings. 64% presented with cardiac enlargement, 85% with left atrial enlargement and 86% with signs of pulmonary venous congestion. Pericardial calcification was noted in 43%.
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Puvaneswary et al. (1982) studied this question. Chest radiographs of constrictive pericarditis patients showed pulmonary venous congestion (86%), left atrial enlargement (85%), cardiac enlargement (64%), and pericardial calcification (43%).
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