The presence of pericardial calcification on a plain radiograph strongly suggests constrictive pericarditis in patients with heart failure. However, calcific constrictive pericarditis is considered rare in the United States since tuberculosis incidence has decreased, and doubt has therefore been raised about the importance of this radiologic finding in modern cardiovascular practice. Clinical and diagnostic findings were compared in both groups, and outcome was compared in 132 patients who had pericardiectomy. Patients in group I had had symptoms for a longer period and were more likely to have pericardial knock, larger atrial size, and atrial arrhythmia. Significantly more perioperative deaths were seen in group I, but incidence of late survival and incidence of noncalcific disease were similar in both groups.
Pericardial calcification is a common finding in patients with constrictive pericarditis.
It is often associated with idiopathic disease and other markers of disease chronicity and is an independent predictor of increased perioperative mortality rates. Ann Intern Med. Author and Article Information From the Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Ling was supported by a Faculty Development Program Scholarship from the National University Hospital, Singapore, and by the Mayo Foundation. J.K. Oh, A.J. Tajik.