24 September 2024
: Case report 
The Constricted Heart: A 31-Year-Old Man with a Case of Constrictive Tuberculous Pericarditis
Rare disease
Oreoluwa E. Olakunle
1BCDEF*, Rachel S. Tobin 1BCDE, Nicole Guynn1E, Anita Osabutey 2E, Maya Younker1E, Mahnoor Khan13E, Marina Mosunjac34E, Alison F. Ward35E, Modele O. Ogunniyi 13E
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.944607
Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e944607
Table 2. Diagnostic findings and imaging modalities in constrictive pericarditis.
| Imaging modality | Findings |
|---|---|
| Chest X-ray | Pericardial calcification, pleural effusions, and biatrial enlargement []1 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG) | Low voltage QRS complexes may be present due to the thickened pericardial layer; an arrhythmogenic process such as atrial fibrillation may also be present []1 |
| Computed tomography | It has a limited role in diagnosis but can provide structural evaluation of pericardial thickness measurement and calcification visualization []5 |
| Echocardiogram | Septal bounce (respiration-related ventricular septal shift)Pulsed wave Doppler: ventricular interdependenceDecrease in mitral inflow velocity with inspiration (>25%)Increase in tricuspid inflow pattern with inspiration (>40%)Increased mitral E-wave velocity with shortened deceleration time (<160 ms) Marked hepatic vein diastolic flow reversal with expiration [,]5 |
| Magnetic resonance imaging | Evaluate pericardial respiration-dependent and independent parameters, valvular velocity, and flow parameters, and provide adequate structural evaluation []5 |
| Positron electron tomography | Limited utility in diagnosing constrictive pericarditis, and increased uptake in areas of increased metabolic activity, especially in infection-induced pericardial disease []5 |