title: Constrictive pericarditis with extensive calcification.
abstract: A patient with signs and symptoms of right heart failure of unknown etiology was referred to a referral hospital in the eastern area of the city of São Paulo with a diagnosis of calcified constrictive pericarditis and was treated by surgery. This pathology is characterized by an irreversible process of pericardium calcification, and surgery is the only alternative to control the symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. This case drew special attention due to the extensive calcification involving the interventricular septum. The unusual aspect of the images has made the diagnosis difficult and raised doubts about the existence of an associated disease.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. villacalima@cardiol.br
authors.forename: Marcelo Villaça
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Juliano Novaes
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Cristina Martins dos Reis
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Euler Cristovan Ochiai
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Brancalhão
authors.forename: Renan Prado
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Limaco
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos Pereira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Barretto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed