Constrictive pericarditis: A reminder of a not so rare disease

Echocardiographic findings in a patient with the classical form of constrictive pericarditis. (A) Parasternal short axis view showing hyper-reflective, thickened posterior pericardium. (B) Doppler mitral flow demonstrating increased respiratory changes. (C) Doppler flow in the left ventricular outflow tract. Note the increased respiratory changes presenting the Echo equivalent of pulsus paradoxus. (D) Subcostal view of the inferior caval vein. There is an absence of normal inspiratory collapse, presenting the Echo equivalent of dilated jugular veins.

CT image of the heart of a patient with constrictive pericarditis, showing a thickened pericardium.