[Value of 2-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion]

Characteristic echocardiographic signs of pericardial exudate were established on the basis of M-scanning and sectoral echocardiography in 44 patients with exudate in the pericardial cavity. It was noted that a two-dimensional examination was more effective in identifying and locating small pericardial exudate in cases of a considerable amount of fluid in the pericardial cavity. The role of two-dimensional examination in the differential diagnosis of pericardial exudate was outlined. The drawbacks of sectoral scanning were also described.