Radiation pericarditis and myocardial fibrosis

The case of a 45-yr-old man with constrictive pericarditis due to radiation for Hodgkin's disease is described. After pericardiectomy and clinical condition did not improve. At necropsy an extensive fibrosis of the myocardium especially located in the anterior part of the heart was found. The clinical consequences of this finding with respect to surgical treatment are briefly discussed.