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(Circulation. 1996;93:834-835.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Constrictive Pericarditis

Paul T. Vaitkus, MD; Kyle A. Cooper, MD; William P. Shuman, MD; Nicholas J. Hardin, MD

From the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington.

Correspondence to Paul T. Vaitkus, Department of Medicine, Cardiology Unit, I-McClure, The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401.

View larger version (146K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. A, Simultaneous right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) pressure recordings demonstrating equalization of diastolic pressures and characteristic "dip and plateau" contour. B, Simultaneous right atrial (RA) and LV pressure recordings demonstrating equalization during diastole and prominent X and Y descents in the RA tracing. C, Chest CT scan in a second patient with constrictive pericarditis demonstrating marked pericardial thickening anterior to the right ventricle (arrow). There is evidence of calcification within the pericardium. D, Portions of pericardium removed at surgery from the second patient showing fibrous and organizing pericarditis up to 2 cm thick. E, Microscopic section from second patient showing dense collagen characteristic of constrictive pericarditis (trichrome stain, x50).

	Footnotes

 
The editor of Images in Cardiovascular Medicine is Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, MD, Chief, Department of Pathology, St Luke's Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, and Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Medical School and Baylor College of Medicine.

Circulation encourages readers to submit cardiovascular images to Dr Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, 6720 Bertner, MC 4-265, Houston, TX 77030.