Medcyclopaedia

About Medcyclopaedia

amershamhealth.com

Search for:

Type a word or a phrase.
All forms of
the word are searchable.

Browse entry words
starting with:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Other characters

Try the free Medcyclopaedia
Professional Edition with added tools and functionality
tailored to make your working day easier. The following tools
are presently available:

1)   Hone your skills with

Medcyclopaedia …
2)
Translation to 5 different …

languages…
3)   High resolution images…
4)
Desktop Search Tool…
5)
Medical spell checker …
6)
Expanded search
7)
Advanced search
8)
Anatomical images with and without

annotations
For Medical
Professionals only, registration required

Pericardial
effusion,

accumulation of
fluid in the pericardial sac. A large effusion inducing a rise of
intrapericardial pressure causes cardiac compression and symptoms of
pericardial
tamponade. There are many aetologies for effusion including: pericarditis,
pericardial infection, pericardial tumours, postpericardiotomy
syndrome, radiation, collagen vascular diseases, uraemia, heart
failure, chylopericardium
and myxoedema. The effusion may be loculated, especially after
cardiac surgery. Chest X-ray suggests the diagnosis when there is
enlargement of the cardiac silhouette over a short time interval
especially in the absence of pulmonary venous hypertension or
oedema. The lateral view may show the fat pad sign consisting of
separation of the parietal and epicardial fat layers by more than
3–4 mm. Echocardiography
is usually employed for definitive diagnosis. Computed tomography
and MRI are very sensitive techniques for demonstrating effusions
(Fig.1).
Haemorrhagic effusions are characterized by high density on CT and
high signal intensity on T1-weighted spin echo MRI (Fig.2).

CBH

The Encyclopaedia
of Medical Imaging Volume V:2

Pericardial
effusion, Fig. 1

ECG-gated
spin-echo image shows a large pericardial effusion. This
transudative effusion has low signal intensity.

Pericardial
effusion, Fig. 2

ECG-gated
spin-echo image demonstrates a loculated pericardial effusion. This
haemorrhagic effusion has high signal intensity.

Disclaimer| Legal| Privacy
Policy|Contact us| The information on this page is intended
for the non-American market only| Copyright 2003| Design
guidelines by Making
Waves