Unsuspected substantial pericardial effusions detected by echocardiography

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Pericardial effusion (PE) is a condition where excess fluid accumulates in the pericardium.
• Echocardiography is a key imaging modality for diagnosing cardiac conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and clinical significance of pericardial effusion detected during routine echocardiography.
• To investigate the prevalence of underlying heart disease in patients with unsuspected pericardial effusion.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,225 consecutive echocardiograms.
• Evaluation of the clinical suspicion and presence of underlying heart disease in patients with pericardial effusion.

Main Results:

• Pericardial effusion was present in 15% of echocardiograms, with 10% considered substantial.
• 61% of substantial pericardial effusions were clinically unsuspected.
• 60% of unsuspected substantial effusions occurred in patients with underlying heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, hypertrophy).

Conclusions:

• Unsuspected substantial pericardial effusion is commonly detected by echocardiography.
• Underlying heart disease is a frequent comorbidity in patients with unsuspected pericardial effusion.
• Echocardiography plays a crucial role in identifying pericardial effusion, particularly in patients with cardiac conditions.