Constrictive pericarditis: assessment of current diagnostic procedures

Constrictive pericarditis frequently poses a diagnostic challenge because of its varied manifestations. Accurate diagnosis is essential, however, because surgical decortication may yield excellent clinical results. Although new diagnostic procedures have helped the clinician to diagnose constrictive pericarditis, the initial clinical suspicion of this diagnosis must be high for appropriate interpretation of these tests. Echocardiography is useful, primarily for distinguishing various other cardiac abnormalities that may simulate constrictive pericarditis. Computed tomography is a valuable procedure for assessment of pericardial thickening. In addition, evaluation of early diastolic filling by computerized digitization in conjunction with echocardiography, angiography, and invasive hemodynamics shows promise as a diagnostic tool. Even with these new diagnostic aids, distinguishing constrictive pericarditis from restrictive cardiomyopathy may be difficult and, in some cases, may necessitate an exploratory operative procedure.