title: Diagnosis of pericardial abnormalities by 2D-echo: a pathology-echocardiography correlation in 85 patients.
abstract: A blinded pericardial echocardiography-pathology correlation was performed using 85 pericardiectomy or autopsy patients. All patients had two-dimensional (2D)-echocardiography performed within 6 months of autopsy or surgery. 2D-echocardiography was able to detect pericardial abnormalities in 35% of patients with a pathologic pericardium. Obliterative processes, such as fibrosis after open-heart surgery, were particularly not well detected echocardiographically. A specificity of 90% to detect pericardial abnormalities is reported. Acute fibrin strands, malignancies, and chronic fibrous connective tissue involving the pericardium were recognized as abnormal. Interobserver variability does exist, but overall reporting was similar. Specific 2D-echocardiographic signs of pericardial disease require prospective validation including direct pathologic correlation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hinds
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Reisner
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Amico
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Meltzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity