[Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion]

The clinical, hemodynamic and radiologic signs of pericardial effusion are reviewed. From the symptomatic point of view low pressure (lax) pericardial effusion and compressive effusion (tamponade) are to be distinguished. Echocardiography is today the preferred method for study of patients with suspected pericardial effusion. This technique also provides insight into ventricular performance and is therefore helpful in the differential diagnosis of cardiomegaly due to pericardial effusion, heart failure or both. In our material uremic pericarditis, malignant tumors and leukemia were the predominant causes of pericardial effusion.