Q. What is Echocardiography in pericardial diseases?

Ans. One of the earliest clinical applications of echocardiography was in the detection of pericardial effusion and it remains the procedure of choice for evaluating this condition. The anatomic evidence of pericardial disease and its functional effects on cardiovascular physiology can often be seen on M- Mode, 2D and Doppler echocardiogram. Pericardial effusion, tamponade, pericardial cyst and absent pericardium can be readily recognized on two- dimensional echocardiography. But diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis with 2D echocardiography alone is difficult but Doppler features diagnose constriction with fair degree of accuracy.