Multimodality Imaging in Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis

Echocardiography. 2024 Dec;41(12):e70037. doi: 10.1111/echo.70037.

Abstract

This case highlights the use of multimodality imaging in the diagnosis and management of chronic constrictive pericarditis (CP) in a 37-year-old male with a history of T-wave inversions on electrocardiogram (ECG). The patient underwent adenosine stress cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) due to suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD). CMR revealed findings suggestive of chronic CP, including pericardial thickening and septal shudder, with computed tomography (CT) confirming the presence of pericardial calcification. The diagnosis was established through the combination of CMR and CT imaging. The patient underwent a successful pericardiectomy. This case emphasizes the crucial role of CMR and CT in diagnosing and guiding the management of CP.

Keywords: CMR; CT; chronic constrictive pericarditis; multimodality imaging; parametric mapping; pericardial calcification.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / methods
  • Male
  • Multimodal Imaging* / methods
  • Pericardiectomy / methods
  • Pericarditis, Constrictive* / complications
  • Pericarditis, Constrictive* / diagnosis
  • Pericarditis, Constrictive* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pericardium / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods