Why differentiating minimal pericardial effusion from thickened pericardium is important ?
• Mild pericardial effusion is largely a benign finding in vast majority. • But , even a minimally thickened pericardium due to active inflammation can be significant. • Sticky pericardial effusion predispose to thickening and constriction. • Early recognition of this dreaded pericardial pathology is essential to interrupt the inflammatory process. • In CRF (With or without dialysis) even a minimal pericardial effusion can denote a dismal outcome . Here is a link to Horowitz classification of mild pericardial effusion … It could help us understand, How thickened pericardium presents in echo. Of course, CT and MRI now have increased sensitivity for diagnosing pericardial thickening.
