It may result from no apparent cause, or it may be the result of chronic inflammation caused by tuberculosis , radiation therapy to the chest, cardiac surgery, or an infection. The inflamed pericardium causes pain when it rubs against the heart. Because the pericardium becomes thickened and scarred, it becomes less elastic. This prevents the pericardium from stretching and results in reduced filling of the chambers of the heart.
Constrictive pericarditis is relatively uncommon in children.
The spleen may be examined by touch. Constrictive pericarditis may resemble restrictive cardiomyopathy or cardiac tamponade . CT scan a coronary angiography an echocardiogram An ECG may show changes. Atrial fibrillation is present about one-third of the time. The goal of treatment is to improve heart function.